Devin Gage put his arms around two of his Curie teammates and was assisted to center court for the Pontiac Holiday Tournament award ceremony Thursday night.
It was the least his teammates could do for the injured Gage after he led No. 2 Curie to a 75-65 win against Peoria Manual in the Pontiac final. Before severely twisting his right ankle in the final minute, Gage scored a game-high 23 points and put together a final tournament performance which earned him the A.C. Williamson Award as MVP.
Gage had been a sophomore role player alongside star Cliff Alexander when Curie last won the Pontiac championship in 2013. This time around it was Gage’s team.
“I took the back seat because I had the big fella in the middle last time,” said Gage, a DePaul recruit. “This was important because coach stressed at the beginning of the season I had to be a leader. I had to do what was best for my team.
“My ankle is throbbing right now. My ankle is killing I me. As long as we got the W, that’s all that matters.”
Curie’s backcourt of Gage and junior guard Elijah Joiner stepped up when the Condors (10-1) needed them the most. With Peoria Manual leading 57-56 in the fourth quarter, Curie closed the game on a 19-8 run, which included 10 points from Gage and Joiner. Joiner, who was voted to the all-tournament second team, scored all 17 of his points in the second half.
Curie’s title continued the Chicago Public League’s dominance at Pontiac. Curie and Simeon have accounted for the last six tournament championships.
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Curie sophomore Landers Nolley II sank four 3-pointers and scored 16 points off the bench. Peoria Manual (10-1) was led by Romon Douglas-Watkins’ 19 points.
Scott Powers is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai.
Player of the game: Devin Gage, Curie, 23 points.
Key performers: Curie — Elijah Joiner, 17 points; Landers Nolley II, 16 points. Peoria Manual — Romon Douglas-Watkins, 19 points; Da’Monte Williams, 15 points.