Carthage College’s men’s basketball team began its 2026‑27 campaign on a high note, defeating Lake Forest 82‑63 on Wednesday night at the Sports and Recreation Center in Lake Forest, Illinois. The win moves the Firebirds to a perfect 2‑0 start and gives the squad confidence heading into its next contest against Wisconsin‑Stout at home on Saturday.
Game flow and key moments
The Firebirds struck first when senior forward Ryan Johnson slotted a layup, but Lake Forest answered with a three‑pointer to take an early lead. Carthage quickly reclaimed the advantage as KJ Cathey, Chris Schlesinger and sophomore forward Sam Ritchie each scored, followed by a layup by Tre Blissett after a steal by Schlesinger. Braylen Meredith added back‑to‑back baskets that pushed the lead to five points.
The first half remained tightly contested. Johnson hit a three‑pointer and Blissett added a second‑chance jumper before Lake Forest tied the game at 29 with just over two minutes left in the half. Johnson then converted two free throws and a layup off an offensive rebound from Meredith, while Blissett capped the stretch with a dunk to give Carthage a 35‑29 edge. Lake Forest narrowed the gap with a late three‑pointer, ending the half at 35‑32.
Second‑half dominance
Carter’s firepower surged in the second half. Schlesinger opened the period with a three‑pointer off an offensive rebound and added two free throws to extend the lead to eight points. After Lake Forest trimmed the deficit to two, Schlesinger answered with another three‑pointer, restoring a comfortable margin. Johnson contributed a mid‑range jumper, Meredith added two free throws and a bucket, and Blissett hit a three‑pointer, pushing the lead to 57‑43.
The Firebirds continued to pull away as Johnson scored on a layup and Darius Blue added a three‑pointer. Johnson finished the night with a dunk assisted by Cathey, while Blue added two free throws. Sheridan contributed a layup, and Johnson followed with another basket and three free throws. Late in the game, Cathey, Meredith and Schlesinger each added free throws, with Meredith sealing the victory with a final free‑throw in the closing seconds.
Statistical leaders
Ryan Johnson led all scorers with 24 points on 9‑of‑14 shooting and a perfect 5‑of‑5 from the line. He also collected nine rebounds, two steals and a block. Braylen Meredith added 16 points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal. Tre Blissett and Chris Schlesinger each contributed 12 points; Blissett added four rebounds, one assist and one steal, while Schlesinger recorded five rebounds, one assist and one steal. Carthage capitalized on turnovers, scoring 22 points off Lake Forest miscues compared with just four for the home team.
Coach’s perspective and upcoming game
Head coach John Doe praised the team’s effort, saying, “Really good second‑half effort against a talented Lake Forest team. We did a nice job of scoring off turnovers and stringing together stops to extend the lead in the middle part of the second half. Ryan Johnson was excellent on both ends of the floor.” He noted defensive communication needed improvement after early screening challenges but highlighted the team’s adaptation to Lake Forest’s 1‑3‑1 zone. Looking ahead, Coach Doe said, “We need to prepare for a very good UW‑Stout team that returns a ton of pieces on Saturday. It will be a fun, physical basketball game!”
Carthage will host Wisconsin‑Stout on Saturday, Nov. 14, with tip‑off set for 2 p.m., giving fans another opportunity to see the Firebirds build on their early‑season momentum.
Original reporting: Kenosha.com — read the source article.
