The Stevenson boys basketball team punched its ticket for a third Class 4A state tournament in as many years early Tuesday night.
A 16-point lead after the first quarter left little doubt that the Patriots would win the Chicago State Supersectional over Riverside-Brookfield. The final score of 62-45 gave Stevenson another berth in the state semifinals, which begin Friday in Peoria.
“Amazing. Especially senior year. We’re excited,” senior guard Matt Johnson said.
Before the game, while inside the Jones Convocation Center locker room, Stevenson coach Pat Ambrose urged his team to begin the game with intensity and vigor.
“That’s [Riverside-Brookfield] a good team, they can shoot the ball,” Johnson said. “[Ambrose] said that we want to get ahead.”
The Patriots got the message. From the opening tip, it was obvious which team had been in a supersectional before. Stevenson charged out with authority, while Riverside-Brookfield played like a team competing in its first supersectional.
A baseline drive and layup by senior guard Jalen Brunson made the score 8-2 with 4:52 left in the first. Senior forward Parker Nichols, the school’s all-time leader in charges taken, took his second of the night on the Bulldogs’ ensuing possession. Nichols’ body dropping to the floor sparked another offensive burst, as the Patriots ended the quarter with a 12-2 run.
“Its huge defensively. It makes a great statement for our team,” said senior guard Connor Cashaw, who led the Patriots with 23 points, 13 in the first half. “We feel it’s a momentum shift. A charge is a huge play.”
The first-quarter supremacy proved important as Stevenson only outscored the Bulldogs 45-44 in the final three quarters. Brunson, who broke Lake County’s all-time scoring record in first quarter, finished with just 13 points on four field goals.
But Stevenson will now have a third opportunity to play for a state championship. On Friday, it plays Bolingbrook in the first state semifinal game at 6:30 p.m. in Peoria.
“We knew we needed to play good defense to start, get out to a lead and play Stevenson basketball,” said Nichols, who was credited with four charges taken. “We have another chance to keep playing.”
Jon Kerr is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
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