CIYY/SUBURBAN MLK SHOWDOWN at FENWICK

Notre Dame 66 Morgan Park 59

In the first game of the City/Suburban MLK Showdown at Fenwick High School, the Enterprise Newspapers' top-ranked Dons of Notre Dame (20-2), behind 16 first half points with four three-pointers,from senior Jason Bergstrom, held a 36-20 lead over Morgan Park (12-7).

The Dons defense had blanked Illinois Mr. Basketball candidate, senior Adam Miller (29 points per game) in the first half. Miller was held to just 10 points for the game.

With 3:51 remaining in the game, Morgan Park had totally erased the Dons 16-point lead to tie the game at 51-51.

The Don's went into attack mode to grab their 20th victory of the season.

Tough-as-nails Dons' senior point guard Jimmy Murphy (four points) scored on a driving lay-up for a 53-51 Dons' lead with 3:23 left.

Junior Anthony Sayles (18 points) followed Murphy's path to the hoop for two and a 55-5, Dons' lead with 3:11 left. Sayles nailed a pair of free throws to extend the Dons' lead to 57-51 with 2:43 left.

Morgan Park would never threaten again.

Junior Troy D'Amico, added 13 points for the Dons, while Louis Lesmond chipped in with 11 points. Lesmond buried a pair of 3's in the first half.

WHEATON WARRENVILLE SOUTH MLK TOURNEY CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Back on December 14, Benet Academy traveled to Elmhurst, to face York in a nonconference battle between the two area rivals. The Redwings traveled without 6-foot-8 Johns Hopkins University-bound center Colin Crothers, who was still out with a preseason injury. The Dukes prevailed 59-50.

On Monday in the 8th annual Wheaton Warrenville South MLK Tournament championship game, Crothers was in action.

After Benet (14-5) jumped out to a 24-16 lead at the half, the Dukes (20-2) turned to their larcenous defense in the third quarter. Stealing the ball repeatedly from befuddled Redwing guards and forcing 11 turnovers, the Dukes outscored the Redwings 14-3,in the third quarter to regain the lead, 30-27.

After Crothers (20 points, 10 rebounds) connected on the seventh and eighth consecutive Redwing free-throws in the fourth quarter, the Redwings led 38-35 with 28.4 seconds remaining.

The last 28.4 seconds for Redwing head coach Gene Heidkamp and his Redwings must have felt like they had arrived in "The Twilight Zone"

With 21.3 seconds on the scoreboard clock, York's All-Tournament senior guard Nate Shockey (14 points) fired an air-ball from beyond the arc that harmlessly went out of bounds.

A late, phantom, foul call on the Redwings gave Shockey three charity tosses. Shockey converted all thee to tie the game at 38-38.

With 10.3 seconds, Benet junior Jack Proc (three points) misfired on a shot from beyond the arc.

Shockey, rebounded the miss and raced up the floor. His wild and off-balance shot banged off the backboard.

In perfect box-out position to rebound the miss was the 6-foot-8 260 pound Crothers.

Chugging up behind the play was York's, 6-4, 225-pound senior Tim Glavin (four points).

Going through and over Crothers, Glavin grabbed the rebound and laid in the game-winning shot at the buzzer, giving the Dukes the 40-38 win.

Benet junior Tyler Van Eekeren (8 points, six rebounds) joined Crothers in knocking down four consecutive free throws in the last minutes of the game to give the Redwings their last lead.

SEMIFINAL

Benet Academy 54 Warren 39

Trailing 6-5 in the closing minutes of the first quarter, Redwing senior Colin Gillespie and Proc buried a pair of three-point bombs to give Benet a 11-6 lead after one quarter. Gillespie and Proc's heroics ignited a 13-0 Redwing run over the first four minutes of the second quarter and an 18-6 lead. The Redwings took a 26-14 lead into the half.

"That is quite an accomplishment for our defense to shut a very good Warren offense out for that amount of time," Heidkamp said.

Sitting out the entire first half, due to foul trouble, Crothers took over the game in the third quarter. Crothers almost had a double-double, scoring 10 points and hauling down eight rebounds in the third quarter alone.

Warren (7-11) closed to within 45-34 with four minutes remaining. Redwing juniors Sam Hennessey and Proc (13 points, three 3's) buried back-to-back dagger three's to blow open the game.

CONSOLATION CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINAL

Rockford East 63 Joliet Central 53

The E-Rabs (11-8), buried an even dozen from beyond the arc to put away the Steelmen (9-14). With 6-foot-8

senior Kee Hargrove (seven points) on the bench with foul trouble, Joliet Central had no answer for the hot-shooting E-Rabs

Junior Jalen Williams led the Steelmen with 11 points and senior Ashawn Pitchford hit double-digits with 10.

FIFTH PLACE SEMIFINAL

Morton 57 Downers Grove North 48

The Mustangs (11-5) held off the Trojans (10-9) in DGN's first game on Monday. Trojan junior Jack Mielke scored 11 points, while off the bench junior guard Aidan Stephens chipped in with 10 points.

SEVENTH PLACE GAME

Lake Forest Academy 55 Downers Grove North 42

The Trojans fell behind 15-3 in the first quarter and could get no closer against LFA (8-9). Mielke again led the Trojans with 10 points. Junior Kyle Engstler chipped in with eight points.

HYDE PARK MLK

Lincoln Park 56 Joliet West 55

The Tigers (17-3) lost a heartbreaker to the Lions (16-3) in Chicago

Crane 62 Plainfield Central 55

The Chicago Public League completed the sweep against the Southwest Prairie Conference with Crane's (17-3) hard-fought win over the Wildcats (11-7)

ILLINOIS CENTRAL 8

Streator 57 Lisle 39

Streator (11-5, 5-2) handed the Lions (9-9, 6-1) their first loss in the IC-8 on Monday

MAINE EAST/MAINE SOUTH

Maine South 86 Schurz 69

Nick Ostojic (24 points, eight rebounds) and Marko Anderson (23 points, 14 rebounds) destroyed the Bulldogs (13-6) inside as the Hawks (11-9) won for the fourth consecutive game. Sean Gallery added 15 points while Casey Clark chipped in with 14 points

Maine South 57 Senn 39

Casey Clark exploded for 33 points in leading the Hawks (12-9) to their fifth consecutive win. Anderson had another double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing a dozen rebounds. Senior guard Danny Locascio handed out nine assists.

Maine East 67 Senn 61

The Blue Demons (5-16) defeated their guests from Chicago.