Michael Nee scores 25 as Glenbard East opens season with statement win against Glenbard North

The first week of high school basketball often is filled with excuses. Sloppy play, with new teams trying to jell after only two weeks of practice and key players just returning from football, is common.

No. 16 Glenbard East and Glenbard North didn’t need excuses Monday at the District 87 Thanksgiving Tournament in Glen Ellyn. Both teams were crisp and clean, look to be in midseason form.

East knocked off North 67-63 behind 25 points, 11 rebounds and five assists from senior Michael Nee, a South Dakota recruit.

Nee, a 6-2 guard, was more surgical than stylish, making quick decisions with the ball.

‘‘I’ve been on varsity for four years,’’ Nee said. ‘‘The game gets slower and slower every year, and you are able to process things quicker. This offseason, my main thing was working on my facilitating and ballhandling, so being able to get everyone else involved is huge. That’s what is going to help us make a deep run in the playoffs.’’

Nee’s quick and decisive passes often found 6-6 senior Sam Walton in the post. Walton finished with 10 points and five rebounds. Jacob Marynowski added 15 points for the Rams.

‘‘I love finding the bigs,’’ Nee said. ‘‘It’s huge having guys like Sammy and Jacob in the post. Coach [Eric Kelly] always stresses getting them the ball. If the defense has to pack it in on them, it just makes my job easier. It’s been a huge emphasis.’’

Nee was the quarterback on Glenbard East’s football team, and Walton played defensive end.

‘‘I’m used to the quick turnaround,’’ Walton said. ‘‘I love sports, and I love this team. I’ve been looking forward to this basketball season since last year. I knew we were going to be really good.’’

The Rams won 22 games last season and went 27-2 during the summer.

‘‘When we get down in tight games, we expect to win,’’ Kelly said. ‘‘All of our guys have played multiple years of varsity. When you get to games like this, that matters.’’

Glenbard North opened an early 17-10 lead behind highly regarded junior Lamari Carpenter, who scored 11 points on a variety of creative moves in the first half. But he only managed two free throws in the second half.

‘‘[Carpenter] is of the best players in the area,’’ Kelly said. ‘‘We had Keenan House guard him, and his assignment was to wear Carpenter down. We limited [Carpenter] in the second half. That was Keenan, and [Nee] stepped up and guarded him, too. It was a group effort to stop him.’’

Senior Matt Welch led the Panthers with 23 points and seven rebounds. Oturo

Redento, a 6-6 junior, added 14 points and nine rebounds.

Glenbard East hasn’t been in the spotlight since 2011. The Rams knocked off Ryan Boatright and East Aurora in the sectional final that year and finished third in Class 4A.

‘‘We can get downstate this season,’’ Kelly said. ‘‘The recipe is to have a Division I player and athletes on the team. We have that. We have depth and experience. We have everything you need.’’