3A sectional semifinal at Richards
Brooks 59, Crete Monee 57
Records: Brooks 25-6, Crete-Monee 19-9
Halftime: Brooks 21-20
Summary: Brooks never trailed, scoring the first nine points of both halves, and opened up the fourth quarter with a 9-2 run. But after each scoring spree, the Eagles had to fend off runs from Crete-Monee, including a furious fourth quarter rally that cut a 10-point lead with under four minutes to play to a 55-53 game with 22 seconds left. Brooks’ sophomore guard George Marshall Jr. then stepped to the line and hit both free throws extending the lead to four. On the ensuing possession, Crete-Monee split a pair from the line, and after a Kevin Gray rebound for Brooks, sophomore guard Michael Powell Jr. was fouled and again hit both of his free throws to put the lead back to five at 59-54. Marshall and Powell sank all eight of their free throws in the last 52 seconds. Crete Monee’s Joshua Humphrey, who poured in 18 points in the second half, buried a three-pointer with six seconds left, but the Warriors–without any time outs–could not stop the clock.
Top performers: Brooks–Marshall 21 points; Powell 10 points; Justin Rabb 10 points. Crete-Monee–Humphrey 24 points, 6 rebounds; James Crockett 10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks.
The bonus: “I just concentrate and try to knock them down,” Marshall said of his clutch free throws. “Really, before I step to the line, I’m thinking that it’s already going in.”