Unranked Eisenhower has been waiting all season to register that one quality win against a class opponent.
Tuesday night the Cardinals got just what they were looking for–a 64-61 upset of No. 11 Sandburg.
“Right now this is definitely our best win,” Eisenhower coach Nate Beebe said. “This was one game we had circled and wanted to play well in since Sandburg is in our sectional. This gives us the upper hand as far as seedings go.
“Last year we were a sixth seed and only played one home game [in the state tournament], and that makes a difference.”
The Cardinals (9-3) almost watched an eight-point lead fall by the wayside in the last 1 minute 37 seconds due to poor free-throw shooting.
Sandburg’s Jim Hoffmann (15 points) hit a pair of free throws with seven seconds left to pull the Eagles within 62-61. With both teams in the bonus, Chris Hobson, who finished with 18 points, was fouled after the inbound pass and was going to the line, where his team was already 0-for-3 in the quarter.
Hobson calmly hit both free throws with five seconds left, giving Sandburg one last chance to set up a play for a game-tying three-point shot. But Joe Gabrione couldn’t handle a pass from Hoffmann and the ball went out of bounds.
An 11-0 run that spanned the third and fourth quarters helped the Cardinals overcome a 47-42 deficit. Josh Johnson had five of his 10 points during the run, including a three-pointer to start it. Montez Lewis finished with 14 for the Cardinals, including four three-pointers.
The Eagles (10-3), playing without 6-foot-9-inch center Chris Rega (pneumonia), were led by Dan Kielbowicz’s 16 points off the bench.
Bill Harrison.
Hillcrest 72, Richards 45: The No. 5 Hawks (13-1) dominated behind Shelby Jordan’s 21 points.
Hales Franciscan 73, Bishop McNamara 57: Nate Minnoy’s 23 points sparked No. 7 Hales (12-2, 3-2) in the Catholic League.
Conant 63, St. Joseph 60: The No. 14 Cougars (11-2) upended St. Joseph (7-7) as Keith Peterson poured in 30 points with five three-pointers, shooting 10-of-16 from the field.
Chris Hart and Jeffrey Ingersold scored 14 points each for St. Joseph, which led 48-47 with 5:54 left before Conant sealed the win with a 7-0 run.
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Brother Rice 79, Riverside-Brookfield 50: Bob Frasor and Dave Telander scored 18 and 16 points, respectively, for the No. 18 Crusaders (10-3). Steve Tabor’s 10 points led R-B (8-6).
Curie 85, Harper 67: In the Public League Red Central, the No. 20 Condors (11-5, 2-0) trailed 18-17 in the second quarter before embarking on a 24-4 run to take control. Jonte Johnson scored 12 of his team-high 14 points during that decisive run while Mikiel Posey finished with 13. James Wright led Harper (7-8, 1-1) with 17 points.
DuSable 64, Washington 56 (2 OT): Lawrence Lockridge’s 20 points gave DuSable (5-10, 1-1) the edge in the Public Red East.
Evanston 85, Palatine 51: The Wildkits (7-4) ran past Palatine as Gordon Watt collected 25 points and 12 rebounds to go with Mike McKinney’s 14 points.
Chris Curtin’s 12 points led Palatine (6-7), which trailed by only two points with 2:15 left in the first half before Evanston used a 12-0 run to take a 45-31 halftime lead.
Evergreen Park 66, Willowbrook 59: The Mustangs (9-4) prevailed behind Jim Adduci’s 16 points and Mark Phelps’ 15.
Jacobs 61, Crystal Lake Central 48: Eric Vierneisel put in 20 points and Mark Sommerville added 15–all on three-pointers–as the Golden Eagles (12-3, 6-1) won in the Fox Valley.
Jacobs was holding a four-point lead with 3:23 remaining before Vierneisel had two three-point plays as part of an 11-3 run to close out the game. Brad Liddell’s 17 points paced Central (4-11, 2-4).
Notre Dame 48, Maine South 42: Ibrahim Badmus and Joe Begale scored 13 points apiece to lead the Dons (11-3).
Robeson 69, Gage Park 51: Jeremy Pargo netted 23 points for Robeson (9-5, 2-0) in the Public Red Central.
Romeoville 79, Joliet 72 (OT): Freshman Willie Walker scored 26 points on 4-of-9 three-point shooting to rally the Spartans (10-3) to the non-conference win.
Ronald Bankston scored two of his 11 points on a putback with 3:56 remaining to stake Joliet to a 62-51 lead. Then Romeoville came roaring back with an 11-0 run–capped by a Walker three-pointer–to force overtime.
Jeremy Fears led Joliet (5-8) with 17 points, including all 10 of his squad’s overtime tallies.
St. Rita 63, Marist 40: The Mustangs (9-5) used Mike Rembert’s 15 points and 14 rebounds in the rout. Kevin Carroll, who opened the game with two three-pointers, added 13 points for the winners.