Shea Glotzbach knows his future is in baseball. As a pitcher and infielder, he helped Lemont finish as the Class 3A state runner-up last year and committed to Missouri-St. Louis for that sport.
But when it comes to pure fun? Glotzbach will take basketball any day.
“I keep playing basketball just for the love of the game,” he said. “Honestly, I think I like it more than baseball but I think I’m better at baseball so I’d like to pursue that.
“But playing basketball is a blast.”
Glotzbach is finding success along with that fun. The senior forward scored 16 points and pulled down six rebounds Friday night to help Lemont secure a historic South Suburban Blue victory with a 70-55 decision over Hillcrest in Country Club Hills.
Gabriel Sularski scored 17 points and Matas Gaidukevicius added 15 for Lemont (21-7, 12-0), which clinched the program’s first outright SSC Blue championship. Zane Schneider finished with 10 points, while Alanas Castillo contributed nine points and eight rebounds.
Jovi Ratliff led Hillcrest (17-10, 10-2) with 14 points. Jamari Thomas scored 12 points and Jamir Ratliff added 11. Maximilian Carmicle picked up seven points and eight rebounds and Jaylen Ingram chipped in with five points and eight rebounds.
Lemont beat the Hawks in a sectional semifinal in 2022 but had not won a regular-season game against them since 2012.
“It means a ton to me and these guys, too,” Glotzbach said. “For my team, my coach and my town, it means everything.”
Glotzbach was a consistent force, scoring eight points in each half. He had three big baskets early in the third quarter as Lemont stretched a 37-28 halftime lead to 48-34.
“Shea’s not a captain for us but he’s felt like a captain,” Sularski said. “He’s a huge leader. Baseball is his main sport but he’s been so focused on basketball this year. He’s been locked in.
“I’m really happy for him. He had a huge night, not just points but also rebounding, and playing against those big guys, it wasn’t easy for him. But he played really well.”
Indeed, Glotzbach spent much of the night battling inside against the 6-foot-7 Carmicle and 6-6 Ingram.
Glotzbach, at 6-4, was at both a height and weight disadvantage but more than held his own.
“I’m meant to be here, so when I face one of those guys, I’m not any more scared of him than he is of me,” Glotzbach said. “I’m ready to go. I know my strength will fight his and I can do it.”
Lemont coach Rick Runaas praised Glotzbach for his toughness, both physically and mentally.
“He brings a competitive ability,” Runaas said. “Because of his baseball experience and playing in big games, he’s not afraid of the moment. He’s strong, he’s confident in his physicality and he likes guarding bigger guys.
“He just fights.”
Lemont fell behind 10-4 before closing the first quarter on a 13-0 run, then never looked back. Sularski, in his first season at Lemont after transferring from Benet, had 16 points in the first half.
“I came here and I put this game on my calendar,” Sularski said. “I knew it was very important for us, and we pulled it out. I’m especially happy for coach.”
Glotzbach also was ready for the moment.
Last spring, he was the winning pitcher in Lemont’s 6-3 state semifinal victory over Highland. So, a basketball game with a conference championship game on the line?
That’s no sweat.
“Being in those playoff games in baseball and having people chirping in my ear and everything, it builds some character to not break down and listen to them,” Glotzbach said. “I just focus on my game and don’t fall into the trap of their chirps.”
