Argo’s Darron Greer Jr. didn’t look up as the scoreboard continuously updated his scoring total.
The 6-foot-4 junior forward knew by instinct Wednesday night that he was achieving statistical numbers that were unprecedented in his high school career for the Argonauts.
“I knew I had a lot of points, but I didn’t want that to hinder me or my teammates,” Greer said afterward, with his final tally still frozen on the scoreboard. “That allowed everybody to play well,
“My coach always says it’s not about points but the overall level of play.”
Greer checked all of those boxes against host Chicago Christian, pouring in a career-high 36 points and pulling down 11 rebounds in a 69-51 nonconference win in Palos Heights.
Senior guard Yusuf Saleh scored eight of his nine points in the second half for Argo (11-12), while senior forward Kenneth Martins also added eight points for the Argonauts.
Chicago Christian (8-8), which led by as many as nine points during the second quarter, was paced in scoring by senior guard Kerry Teague with 14 points. Casey Lenarz added 10 points.
Greer, meanwhile, scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, easily surpassing his previous benchmark of 26 points with an alley-oop dunk. He showed a repeated ability to get to the rim.
A spectacular left-handed dunk to start the third quarter and the alley-oop that punctuated his elite performance removed any doubts about an ankle injury he suffered in the fourth quarter Friday.
“I just went out and did what I knew I could do,” Greer said. “I didn’t want to force anything. Once I got the first dunk, I just thought I felt pretty good.
“When I saw how many points I ended up with, I just told myself that’s a good game.”
Saleh, Argo’s point guard, finished with six assists — with many setting up Greer.
“Having a teammate like that makes it easy for me, especially when I distribute,” Saleh said. “He’s a three-level scorer who can shoot, take you off the bounce and work in the pick-and-roll game.
“We spent a lot of time last summer working together and it has produced.”
Argo coach Pat Maietta pointed out that Greer is the pulse of the team.
“If he’s playing well, Argo is usually playing well,” Maietta said. “He’s not afraid to rebound or defend. He knows when to get to the basket and he’s very crafty once he gets there.
“He also hit a three (Wednesday night), and that gave us more energy.”
Greer, the middle of three children, arrived at Argo at the start of his freshman season after the family moved from his native Waterloo, Iowa.
“I was nervous at first,” he said. “My freshman season started, and I was kind of shaky. I wasn’t scoring much. I started getting comfortable and everybody was very helpful.
“It just felt great to have people around me who wanted me to be here.”
Finding chemistry and playing together is something intuitive and natural for Greer. Like the rest of his family, Greer is a musician who plays piano, bass and organ for his church.
His dad always provided special insight.
“I started out as a post player,” Greer said. “My father always encouraged me to diversify my game in case I didn’t grow. I like contact and I like going to the rim.”
The other passion in his family is bowling. In that sport, he never worries about his best score.
“I don’t keep track of that,” he said. “I just look to see if I’m No. 1 or last in my family.
“I’ve always had high expectations in basketball, and that has helped me build out as a player.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
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