If the IHSA had a classics station, Friday night’s SICA East matchup between No. 12 Shepard and previously ranked Bloom would be rerun over and over again.
The game had controversial fouls, clutch free-throw shooting and last-second shots, which had the capacity crowd in Chicago Heights at the edge of their seats with every possession.
Bloom finally prevailed 69-68 in overtime.
The Trojans broke a three-game skid and improved to 11-5, 1-2 in conference. The Astros fell to 12-3, 1-3.
“It certainly was a classic game,” Bloom coach Gary Meyer said after his team rallied from a 10-0 deficit to take a 30-26 halftime lead. “Things looked dismal for us early and going into overtime, but somehow we pulled through.”
Pulling through for Bloom in overtime would be point guard Robert Davis. With his team down 68-66 and the final seconds ticking down, Davis drove the lane, converted a layup and was fouled with three seconds left. After a Shepard timeout his free throw rattled around the rim three times before falling through for the winning point.
“I put the shot up and I got the bounce,” Davis said. “It felt great, especially after I missed three [free throws] in the fourth quarter.”
Joe Chapman finished with a team-high 25 points but sat on the bench the entire overtime after fouling out on a push-off after a rebound of a Jon Cleveland free throw with two seconds left in regulation and Bloom up 61-59. The infraction sent Mike Hall (25 points) to the line. He capitalized by hitting both free throws to send the game into overtime.
Mike Smith finished with 20 points for the Astros while teammate Lorenzo Yelder had 15.
Bill Harrison.
Up next for Shepard: Tuesday at home vs. Crete-Monee.
2. Joliet
No. 2 Joliet received points from 10 different players in beating Stagg 82-59 in the SICA West contest.
Joliet (17-1, 5-0) streaked to a 10-0 lead in the opening two minutes before Stagg (10-7, 2-2) tied it at 10-10 a few minutes later. The host Steelmen led 21-15 after one quarter and 37-27 at halftime before breaking the game open.
Brandon Banks hit three three-pointers late in the third quarter when the Steelmen went on a 13-3 run, taking a 67-41 advantage to the fourth. Banks and Kellen Easley (17 points) each added thunderous dunks in the closing moments.
Joliet, in extending its winning streak to six, picked up 13 points from Banks and 11 from Branden Dillard. Nick Leonard (13) and David Genslinger (12) led Stagg.
— Ken O’Brien.
Up next: Tuesday at home vs. Kankakee.
3. Thornwood
Pierre Thomas’ two free throws with 3.8 seconds left led the Thunderbirds (14-1, 4-0) in a 31-29 victory over Thornridge in the SICA East game. See story, Back Page.
Up next: Saturday at No. 7 Young.
4. New Trier
James Romey scored eight points, grabbed 10 rebounds and made three free throws in the final eight seconds as the Trevians (18-1, 6-0) held off Evanston 60-54 in the Central Suburban South. See story, Back Page.
Up next: Friday at Niles West.
8. Waubonsie Valley
Derrick Clanton scored 22 points as the Warriors (14-0, 5-0) downed East Aurora 68-59 in the Upstate Eight. Morris Ellis added 15 points, while Jeff Sassano contributed with 10 points.
Darice Venson scored 23 points to lead East Aurora (7-7, 2-3).
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Up next: Friday at Larkin.
9. Hillcrest
The Hawks (11-4, 4-0) crushed Bremen 84-30 in the SICA Central play as Shelby Jordan scored 16 points..
Up next: Wednesday at home vs. Thornton.
10. West Aurora
West Aurora nearly achieved perfection in a 70-43 DuPage Valley victory over Glenbard North.
The No. 10 Blackhawks (13-2, 5-1) were only 32 seconds away from shutting out the host Panthers in the second quarter before senior forward Mike Paradowski hit a short jumper. But the basket didn’t make much difference. The damage already was done.
West Aurora outscored Glenbard North 18-2 during the quarter for a 38-15 lead due to a mix of Panthers turnovers and the Blackhawks’ fast break.
“We were getting the ball up the floor, getting some good looks and getting the ball in the basket,” West Aurora coach Gordie Kerkman said.
Dameon Mason scored 11 points in the quarter for West Aurora and ended with a game-high 23 for the night.
Greg Klos scored 20 for the Panthers (11-4, 3-3).
Up next: Friday at home vs. West Chicago.
11. Proviso East
Dee Brown scored 19 points and Shannon Brown contributed 16 points as the Pirates (11-2, 4-0) blew out Hinsdale South 83-38 in the West Suburban Gold.
Up next: Friday at Morton.
13. Schaumburg
Joe Rizzo scored on an off-balance jumper at the buzzer to give Conant (8-8, 2-3) a 50-48 upset over Schaumburg in the Mid-Suburban West.
After Schaumburg’s Tony Young made a driving layup to tie the game 48-48 with 26 seconds left, Conant went to work. Mike Hlavacek missed a driving layup, then Mike Krajecki missed a tip-in and the ball bounced out to the free-throw line, where Rizzo caught it and fired up the winning shot.
“The play was set up as a back door; we were going to drive and force it,” Rizzo said. “When the tip was missed, I knew I had to try and get in to make something happen.”
Rizzo finished with 11 points, while Hlavacek led the way for Conant with 17 points.
Young and Craig Reichel each scored 16 points for the Saxons (12-4, 3-2).
Up next: Saturday at home vs. Elgin.
14. Rich South
Brandon Cole tallied 32 points and 20 rebounds to carry the Stars (13-2, 4-0) to a 74-71 victory over Rich East in the SICA South. Cole and Walter Wohiren each scored five points in a 10-0 run late in the game to break a 64-64 tie.
Karlin House scored 26 points to lead Rich East (9-7, 3-1), which led by as many as six points in the third quarter.
Up next: Tuesday at home vs. Richards.
16. Manley
Dwayne Harper scored 25 points and Ron Hegwood pitched in 19 points as the Wildcats (15-3) rolled over Providence-St. Mel 71-53.
Manley employed pressure defense in the third quarter, which enabled the Wildcats to go on a 19-4 run.
Stanley Gaines scored 25 points to led St. Mel (6-8).
Up next: Tuesday at home vs. Wells.
19. Thornton Fractional North
Tom Piotrowski scored 19 points and Brad Hatfield added 12 points and 10 rebounds as the Meteors (14-2, 4-0) nipped Tinley Park 76-74 in the SICA Central.
Lionel Buckley had 20 points and Trevor Buboltz added 19 to lead Tinley Park (8-9, 3-2).
Up next: Friday at Oak Forest.
20. Homewood-Flossmoor
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Cyrus Tate buried two free throws with 1.9 seconds left as the Vikings (12-5, 2-2) nipped Thornton 66-65 in the SICA East. Watson was 5-of-10 from the line, but made them in the crunch.
“I was scared, but I concentrated a little more,” Tate said. “Once the first one went in, I felt confident on the second one.”
Troy Watson’s 15 points and Adam Dauksas’ 13 points and six assists led H-F.
Anthony Williams led Thornton (4-8, 0-4) with 14 points.
Up next: Friday at No. 12 Shepard.