Fenwick found life after Corey Maggette difficult.
With Maggette beginning a promising career at Duke, the Friars struggled through an 8-15 regular season and a seventh-place finish in the Catholic League North.
But Wednesday evening the Friars set about closing their season on a positive note, knocking off Argo 60-45 in Summit in the opening round of the Morton sectional. The Argonauts played without leading scorer Enos Taplin, who was ill.
“We felt if we could get into the fourth quarter and still be in the game, we’d have a chance to win,” Fenwick coach John Quinn said. “Our juniors matured today and our seniors played like they didn’t want to lose their last game. We took advantage of a wounded team.”
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After Argo pulled within 48-45 with 1 minute 35 seconds remaining, Fenwick scored the game’s last 12 points.
Larry Connor and Jabari Harris each scored 17 points to lead Fenwick (9-15). Al Sewasciuk led Argo with 17. Argo finished the season 15-10.
In other games from the Morton sectional:
No. 10 Proviso East (22-4) routed Willowbrook 58-28 behind Steven Hunter’s 18 points. . . . Jack Maniscalco and Andy Bumgardner each scored 16 points as St. Patrick (15-11) advanced with a 53-41 victory over York. . . . Oak Park (20-6) cruised past Riverside-Brookfield 63-37 behind Pierre Monagan’s 15 points. Randy Ramsey scored 17 for R-B (14-11).
Bloom: C.C. Malone’s 15 points led four in double figures as No. 8 Bloom (21-5) drubbed Rich East 60-36. . . . Mark Collins scored 16 points as Rich South (17-9) advanced with a 62-45 victory over St. Rita. . . . Marist scored 13 of the first 14 points of overtime to eliminate Homewood-Flossmoor 80-70. Larry Schindler led the RedHawks (14-11) with 21 points. . . . Armond Nelson scored 19 points and Robert Massingale added 16 to lead No. 20 Thornridge to a 73-55 victory over Mt. Carmel.
Bolingbrook: Mark Telander scored 24 points as Brother Rice rolled past Oak Lawn 88-53. . . . Marcus Moore scored 11 points and Orlando Wilson added 10 to lead Downers Grove South (18-9) to a 62-59 victory over Oswego. . . . Mike Rojas scored 26 to lead Reavis (19-7) past Waubonsie Valley 64-39. . . . Drew Carstens scored 28 points to guide Downers Grove North (20-6) past Bolingbrook 73-51.
East Aurora: Matt Gruidl scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds and Thomas Brandon also scored 12 to lead Glenbard South (22-4) to a 50-42 victory over Geneva. . . . Mark Johnson scored 11 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to give Glenbard North (13-13) a 75-58 victory over Addison Trail. Dave Steele led Addison Trail (12-13) with 26 points and 11 rebounds. . . . Jordan Monson scored 17 points to lead Naperville North to a 73-52 victory over Glenbard East. . . . Nathan Frank scored 16 to guide Wheaton Warrenville South (22-4) past Batavia 61-56.
Lincoln-Way: Packy MacFarlane scored 14 points as Oak Forest (12-13) held off Sandburg 56-50. . . . Lincoln-Way (19-7) topped Bremen 44-39 as Tony Gabrione scored 14. . . . Providence (15-11) ousted Plainfield 60-49 with Vincent Martin’s 18 points and Brandon Johnson’s 17. Luke Sillar scored 21 in defeat.
Niles West: No. 17 Evanston (19-6) needed overtime to beat Notre Dame 45-36. The Wildkits sank seven free throws down the stretch and shut out Notre Dame 9-0 in OT. Karlton Mims and Sheldon Cannon each scored 12 for Evanston. Joe Brennan had 14 for Notre Dame (7-18). . . . Gordon Tech (20-7) cruised to an 84-43 victory over Holy Cross despite playing without starters Jerry Sanders, Jitim Young and Dion Boyd. Terry Moore led the Rams with 16 points and Tim Shorts added 15. . . . Bart Fabian hit 8 of 14 three-pointers en route to 38 points as Maine West knocked out Niles North 79-67. . . . Derek Reich scored 15 points and grabbed 16 rebounds as Niles West (14-11) held off Glenbrook South 50-49.
Prospect: Tim Frick scored 12 and Steve Battisti added 11 as Streamwood downed Palatine 59-47. . . . Ryan Kelly had 12 points and seven blocks to spark Hersey (19-8) in its 42-35 victory over Conant (13-13). . . . Sean Harrington hit 13 of 15 free throws and scored 22 points to lead Elgin (17-10) to a 52-39 victory over Larkin. Marcus Smallwood added 12 points and 12 rebounds. Damien Grissette led Larkin with 20. Elgin scored 15 of the first 17 points of the fourth quarter to blow the game open.
“It was a real emotional game,” Harrington said. “Any time you play your cross-town rival its a tough game.”
Barrington (19-8) upended Buffalo Grove 71-57 in overtime as Todd Moser (12 points) went 10 of 10 from the free-throw line in the extra session. The Broncos outscored Buffalo Grove 21-7 in OT. Tim Meyer led the victors with 23 points.
Rockford East: Scott Lemke’s 23 points led Crystal Lake South past Dundee-Crown 78-66. Steve Jorgensen scored 23 and Mike McKibben added 20 for Dundee-Crown (13-13).
Waukegan: Zion-Benton (24-4) used 17 points each by Darnell Fields and Jermaine Mayo to knock off North Chicago 67-52. . . . Kent Creasman and Brett Skolnik each scored 20 points as Deerfield (12-12) rolled over Grant 80-62.
Class A sectional semifinals
Plano: The host Reapers (20-8) used 29 points by Brad Korn to defeat Manlius Bureau Valley 52-47 and advance to Friday’s sectional final against Spring Valley Hall.
“It boggles my mind to think that the Plano Reapers are on the basketball map,” Plano coach Scott Miller said. “It will probably hit me in the morning.”
Bureau Valley finished 16-11.
Herscher: Newark (22-8) hit five free throws in the last 24 seconds to prevail over Momence 62-58. Justin Carlson scored 23 for Newark. Roosevelt Shegog led Momence with 24.
Kaneland: Matt Zachery had 31 points and 10 rebounds as Rockford Christian Life (23-8) ousted Richmond-Burton 60-54. Scott McKendry scored 17 for Richmond-Burton (14-14).