There are numerous reasons why Notre Dame was better than Evanston on Tuesday night, namely the six Dons players who scored seven or more points.
One statistic in particular always seems to tell the truth, and it certainly did in the first Class 4A Glenbrook South Sectional semifinal.
Notre Dame missed one of its 11 fourth-quarter free throws, Evanston made three of its 10, and the No. 18 Dons upset the No. 14 Wildkits 68-56 to advance in Glenview.
Lucas Simon led a balanced attack with 16 points, Matt Stritzel scored 14 and Jeameril Wilson 13. Anthony D’Avanzo (nine points, 12 rebounds) scored seven points in the final 2 minutes, 4 seconds as Notre Dame pulled away late after Evanston cut a double-digit deficit to 55-53 with 2:39 left.
The Dons (24-6) will play No. 12 Stevenson or No. 13 Deerfield for the sectional title at 7 p.m. Friday.
“Our best player (Ammar Becar) has been sick all week and he struggled tonight,” Notre Dame coach Tom Les said, “so every guy in the lineup took one step up and gave us a little extra, and I think that was the difference.
“We could have folded very easily. They (Evanston) were aggressive, hitting shots, getting to the free throw line, and we took their punch. We knew somewhere in the second half they come at you. It was a matter of could we take it and respond.”
Some teams don’t get close enough to Simon to foul him, instead daring him to shoot.
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The 6-foot-4 point guard is an effective player even when he doesn’t look for his own shot, but that wasn’t the approach he took against Evanston (23-6).
He made six of his final seven shots and all four of his fourth-quarter free throws after Nojel Eastern (27 points) almost singlehandedly erased what had been a 14-point Notre Dame lead.
“Coach has been confident in me to take that shot,” Simon said. “It has been paying off. It’s nice to see it fall down.”
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai.
Player of the game: Lucas Simon, Notre Dame, 16 points.
Key performers: Notre Dame — Anthony D’Avanzo, 9 points, 12 rebounds; Matt Stritzel, 14 points; Jeameril Wilson, 14 points, 6 rebounds. Evanston — Nojel Eastern, 27 points.