Oak Lawn Spartans Clinch 5th Straight SSC Title In 'Drive For Five' In Boys Basketball

The Spartans' boys basketball team won their 5th consecutive South Suburban Conference Red Championship, the first time the school has accomplished this feat since 1983.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Oak Lawn Community High School boys basketball team clinched their 5th straight South Suburban Conference Red Championship with a 60-29 victory over Reavis on Senior Night. The Spartans, led by seniors Jack Dempsey, Marc Harvey, and Omar Saleh, have now won the conference title five years in a row, something the school had not done since 1983. Head coach Jason Rhodes credited the team's toughness and execution of his long-term vision for the program as keys to their sustained success.

Why it matters

Oak Lawn's boys basketball program has emerged as a dominant force in the South Suburban Conference, winning 5 straight titles - a feat the school had not accomplished since the 1980s. This run of success has helped establish the Spartans as a premier program in the region, raising the profile of the school and inspiring the local community.

The details

The Spartans clinched the conference title with a convincing 60-29 victory over Reavis on Senior Night. Senior leaders Jack Dempsey (17 points), Marc Harvey (13 points), and Omar Saleh (10 points, 14 rebounds) led the way, while sophomore Ben Delberto added 14 points. Head coach Jason Rhodes credited the team's toughness, defense, and balanced scoring as keys to their success this season. The Spartans followed up the conference-clinching win with a 70-64 victory over a strong Riverside-Brookfield team, extending their win streak to 12 games and improving their overall record to 22-6.

  • The Spartans clinched the conference title on February 11, 2026.
  • Oak Lawn had not won a conference championship since 1983 prior to this 5-year run.

The players

Jason Rhodes

The head coach of the Oak Lawn Community High School boys basketball team, who has led the Spartans to 5 straight South Suburban Conference Red Championships.

Jack Dempsey

A senior leader of the Oak Lawn Spartans, who has been a key contributor to the team's 5-year conference title run.

Marc Harvey

A senior member of the Oak Lawn Spartans' "Big Three" along with Dempsey and Saleh, helping lead the team to 5 straight conference championships.

Omar Saleh

The third member of Oak Lawn's senior "Big Three", contributing 10 points and 14 rebounds in the conference-clinching victory.

Ben Delberto

A sophomore player for the Oak Lawn Spartans who added 14 points in the team's conference title-clinching win.

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What they’re saying

“I had a slide that contained my vision for the program and the core value of toughness that I thought we could build upon. Fifteen years later, it's amazing to me that we have essentially seen that vision become a reality.”

— Jason Rhodes, Head Coach, Oak Lawn Community High School (Patch.com)

“Without them, none of this would have been possible. It means something to be an Oak Lawn basketball player now.”

— Jason Rhodes, Head Coach, Oak Lawn Community High School (Patch.com)

“Jack Dempsey, in particular, has had a role in the last four conference championships, going 45-7 in conference play (to date), and losing just one conference game on our side of the league, all the way back during his freshman season [on the road at Evergreen Park].”

— Jason Rhodes, Head Coach, Oak Lawn Community High School (Patch.com)

“Marc and Omar have had stellar senior seasons as part of our 'Big Three' (along with Jack) on the floor.”

— Jason Rhodes, Head Coach, Oak Lawn Community High School (Patch.com)

What’s next

The Spartans will finish out the regular season before IHSA regionals start the week of Feb. 23.

The takeaway

Oak Lawn's boys basketball program has established itself as a dominant force in the South Suburban Conference, winning 5 straight titles - a feat the school had not accomplished since the 1980s. This sustained success has helped build the Spartans' reputation as a premier program in the region, inspiring the local community and setting a new standard for what it means to be an Oak Lawn basketball player.