Evanston flashes its offensive firepower and contains Mason Lockett to take down Oswego East

There are only three seniors in the state who have signed with high-major colleges and only two in the area: Oswego East’s Mason Lockett (DePaul) and Young’s Marquis Clark (Tennessee).

High school basketball is obviously a team game, and even players without college futures play significant roles. But the high-major talents often dominate and usually swing close games.

On Saturday against No. 10 Evanston in Flossmoor, the 6-5 Lockett provided exactly what has been missing around the area this season. He dazzled in the first half with his skill, athleticism and all-around feel for the game. Despite Lockett’s show, however, the Wolves led by only one point.

Then in the second half, the Wildkits showed what a well-rounded team with only one senior starter can do. Evanston dominated the third quarter and took home an 83-54, running-clock victory at the MLK ‘‘The Dream Continues’’ Classic.

The Wildkits (16-3) took control with a 20-0 burst in the third quarter. They made four three-pointers during the run, which came with their two best players on the bench. Junior Vito Rocca was injured after a collision, and sophomore Ben Ojala was in foul trouble.

‘‘Being able to extend the lead with me and Vito on the bench is really exciting to see,’’ Ojala said. ‘‘Everyone is stepping into their role. Our big focus at halftime was getting rebounds and forcing one-and-dones, and they did exactly that. [Oswego East] forced bad shots, and we got the rebound.’’

Ojala finished with 12 points and six rebounds and Rocca with 11 points and five rebounds in limited minutes. Ojala is a threat on defense with his fast, disruptive hands.

‘‘At the beginning of the season, it was other guys making those kinds of plays,’’ Ojala said. ‘‘I’ve been learning from them, getting those steals and deflections. My defense is one of the lower ends of my game, and I’ve been working on it.’’

Senior Timi Ogunsanya led Evanston with 21 points, four rebounds and three steals. He wasn’t in the rotation last season and is relishing his opportunity this season.

‘‘It’s a big adjustment, but this is my senior year, and I have to put it all on the floor,’’ Ogunsanya said. ‘‘It can’t be like last year, when I come on the floor and don’t do anything, so they have to take me out.’’

Junior Dion Lane added 15 points and junior Tate Schroeder 11 points and five rebounds for the Wildkits.

Scoring is down around the area, and few teams seem to have more than a couple of players able to put the ball in the basket consistently. That isn’t the case with Evanston.

‘‘We have a lot of weapons on the floor,’’ Ogunsanya said. ‘‘We don’t have to worry about offense; we have to focus on the defense. We aren’t that good at defense. It is a work in progress. But anybody on the team can be the leading scorer in any game. If one of us went to a different team, we would be the leading scorer.’’

Lockett scored 17 points in the first half and finished with 25 or Oswego East (14-6). Jacen Tucker added 11 and D’Shaun Bolden 10.

The Wolves were ranked in the Super 25 until last week but now have lost three of their last five games.