The star quarterback without a Super Bowl ring, the legendary actor without an Oscar, the world-class golfer without a major.
Curie was the Illinois high school basketball version — until Tuesday night.
More Top Picks Bike Seat
The No. 3 Condors had four double-digit scorers and another with nine, fighting off No. 8 Notre Dame to earn their first trip to the state tournament with a 65-62 victory in the Class 4A Evanston Supersectional at Northwestern’s Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Curie’s lone senior, DePaul-bound guard Devin Gage, had 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and sophomore Landers Nolley II scored 17 points as Curie (26-5) led virtually all game. The Condors survived a late Notre Dame rally to set up a date with Rockford Auburn in the state semifinals at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Peoria.
“This means everything,” said Gage, who was a sophomore starter on the Cliff Alexander team that was ranked No. 1 in the area before forfeiting all of its victories and the Public League championship.
“My four years at Curie, there have been a lot of ups and downs. To go downstate is amazing. Being under Cliff, trying to get us to state, and now getting there, it’s a blessing.”
Notre Dame (25-7) came in on extended roll that included a pair of double-digit victories over ranked teams in the sectional round.
The Dons were hot from the start, but stopping Curie’s bevy of scorers is no easy task when the Condors share the ball like they did Tuesday night.
Terry Smith Jr. and Allante Pickens scored 10 points apiece and Elijah Joiner added nine and four assists for the Condors, who had an answer every time momentum started going Notre Dame’s way.
Despite trailing by seven with just under two minutes to play, Notre Dame did have two late opportunities to tie or take the lead, but Nolley blocked one shot and the Dons failed to get another one off following Curie’s fifth consecutive missed free throw with 4.5 seconds left.
“We won the game because we played as a unit,” Curie coach Mike Oliver said. “I told the guys, we’ve got one senior, and Devin has been around what seems like eight years. We’ve just got to listen to him and let him be our leader.”
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai.
Player of the game: Landers Nolley II, Curie, 17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks.
Key performers: Curie — Devin Gage, 16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists; Terry Smith Jr., 10 points, 7 rebounds. Notre Dame — Anthony D’Avanzo, 18 points, 7-8 FGs, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks.