Area basketball fans know all about Matty G.
Glenbrook South senior Matt Giannakopoulos, a three-year varsity player who is certain to play at the next level, has been a name player around these parts for few seasons.
But what about that other Matt?
New Trier junior Matt Samuelson came up with a lights-out three-point shooting performance in his team’s 61-44 victory over host GBS on Jan. 2.
Samuelson came off the bench to score a team-best 17 points. He was 5-for-5 from behind the arc.
“He gave us a big pick-me-up tonight,” said New Trier head coach Scott Fricke. “He’s a great shooter.”
And right now, Samuelson is hotter than a ball of fire.
In a JV game last Saturday against Niles West, Samuelson fired in eight three-pointers.
“We know they have some shooters,” said GBS head coach Ben Widner.
But, coming into this game, No. 30 — Samuelson — wasn’t a big concern for the Titans (7-10, 1-5). His name wasn’t circled in red ink on the scouting report.
“We didn’t see much of him when we first played them,” said Widner, referring to a 60-52 GBS loss at New Trier on Dec. 2. “And there wasn’t a lot of film on him either.
“But he sure shot the heck out of the ball tonight,” the Titans coach added.
Samuelson didn’t even enter the game until midway through the second quarter.
But his impact was immediate. In the final 2:07 of the second quarter, Samuelson hit three three-pointers on the offensive end and made three deflections/steals on the defensive side.
Fricke started him in the second half, and Samuelson responded with two more three-pointers for the Trevians (9-7, 3-2).
Meanwhile, Matty G was doing his own thing for the Titans. The 6-foot-5 guard led all scorers in points (20) and rebounds (8).
Like Samuelson, Giannakopoulos was dead-eye from long range, going 6-for-8 from three-point land. He had 11 of his team’s 13 points in the third quarter.
“That kid (Matty G) is an outstanding shooter and player,” said Fricke. “If he shoots it, it’s going in.”
Giannakopoulos continues to raise his level of play. He came up with a career-highs — 40 points and seven threes — in a 79-73 setback to Niles North on Jan. 13.
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New Trier Game Balls: Matt Samuelson, Ciaran Brayboy
Glenbrook South Game Balls: Matty Giannakopoulos
Player of the Game: Samuelson
New Trier Stat Leaders: Samuelson (17 points, 5-5 on three-pointers, 3 steals), Brayboy (12 points, 3 rebounds), Andrew Kirkpatrick (10 points, 7-8 at FT line, 4 assists, 2 steals), Aaron Peltz (9 points), Spencer Boehm (3 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals)
Glenbrook South Stat Leaders: Giannakopoulos (20 points, 6-8 on three-pointers, 8 rebounds), Chase Thomas (8 points, 2 steals), Gavin Morse (4 points, 4 rebounds)