The schedule would have been difficult anyway, because that’s Marian Catholic’s style.
This one was beefed up even by Marian’s standard, because the Spartans’ talent was at an all-time high.
Then three of those players enrolled elsewhere this school year. A fourth left in the middle of the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic.
The smallest player with the biggest name stuck around. An internet sensation since his elementary school days, Chase Adams had one of his finest moments Friday night.
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The 5-foot-7 junior rallied the Spartans from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit for their most impressive victory of the season, a 66-65 overtime upset of No. 11 St. Patrick in Chicago Heights.
Adams (22 points, six assists) scored six of the Spartans’ eight points in OT after forcing overtime on a 3-pointer with 35 seconds left in regulation.
“We wanted to get over that hump,” Adams said. “We’ve been in a little slump and we’ve been through a lot of adversity this season.
“We stayed positive, we had a lot of prayers as a team and it brought us closer as a team. Practices had been complacent. We were kind of cocky. Now we know we have to compete.”
St. Patrick (18-3, 4-1 East Suburban Catholic) was well on the way to its seventh straight victory when Alton Thompson’s fourth alley-oop and fifth dunk of the night gave the Shamrocks a 54-44 lead.
Marian (12-8, 3-2) trailed by four with a minute left when Adams tied up the 6-4 Thompson to maintain possession.
Warren Allen then split two free throws for the Spartans. Victor Akinyemi rebounded the miss and found Adams for a four-point possession to draw Marian even for the first time since the second quarter.
Adams dominated the overtime period, confidently draining a step-back jumper and all four free throws to give the Spartans a four-point lead with 15 seconds left.
“It does feel good because our schedule has tested us all year long,” Marian coach Mike Taylor said. “We had a tough loss Saturday (52-50 to No. 12 Fenwick), and to come back from 10 down, I’m proud of these kids. I don’t ever think they thought they were going to lose this game.”
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai.
Player of the game: Chase Adams, Marian Catholic, 22 points, 6 assists.
Key performers: St. Patrick — Alton Thompson, 21 points; Xavier Pinson, 13 points, 6 rebounds. Marian Catholic — Warren Allen, 9 points, 8 rebounds; Malik Tidwell, 9 points (7 in 4th quarter).