By Drake Skleba
For the Bugle
After holding off Wheaton North 56-53 in Friday’s quarterfinal without standout Wes Hooker Downers Grove South (9-4) welcomed Hooker back to help the team to a thrilling 59-55 overtime victory over Lyons Township (10-4) in the second semifinal of the Tosh Holiday Classic Saturday.
Tournament MVP candidate Justin Eagins led the Mustangs with 21 points. After bombing Wheaton North with six long-range three pointers Friday, Eagins nailed three more triples in the semifinal.
Hooker, returning from Friday’s hip-pointer injury, picked up a double-double, scoring 19 points and hauling down 10 rebounds for the Mustangs.
Friday night’s hero Timmeon Gamble, scored 11 points in the semifinal.
The Mustangs led the Lions 40-32, as the game headed to the final quarter. Led by senior Nolan Niego (25 points) LT made a furious fourth quarter rally to send the game into overtime.
The two senior Mustangs, Eagins and Hooker, took over and led the Mustangs to victory in the OT.
At 3 p.m. on New Years Eve afternoon, the host Dukes of York (13-1) in the championship game.
In Friday night’s quarterfinal with Wheaton North with seven minutes remaining in the second quarter, Hooker went to the sideline after scoring seven first quarter points to lead the Mustangs to a 17-10 lead.
Led by the extra efforts off the Mustang bench from seniors Kamonte Brown-Poe and 6-foot-9 JT Jablonski, Downers Grove South would hold off Wheaton North 56-53.
“With Wes out with the injury, I had to really step up,” Poe-Brown said. “I am very proud that I was able to contribute to our victory.”
In Friday night’s quarterfinal with Wheaton North with seven minutes remaining in the second quarter Hooker went to the sideline after nailing seven first quarter points to lead the Mustangs to a 17-10.
Hooker tried to return in the third and fourth quarters, but could not.
Led by the extra efforts off the bench from seniors Brown-Poe and Jablonski, Downers Grove South held off Wheaton North 56-53.
“With Wes out with the injury, I had to really step up,” Poe-Brown said. “I am very proud that I was able to contribute to our victory.”
The quarterfinal classic went to the fourth quarter tied 38-38. Jablonski was inserted into the game by Mustang coach Kris Olson to combat Wheaton North’s 6-foot-9 Deng Rae (17 points, six rebounds).
Jablonski scored over Rae and grabbed three rebounds as the Mustangs held a 41-39 lead in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter.
“I went into the game with the mindset to try to slow Rae down,” Jablonski said. “What a great team victory. To win this with Wes out with the injury is a tremendous confidence boost for all of us.”
With the Mustangs down 43-42, a Justin Eagins jumper put the Mustangs up 44-43 with 4:56 left.
With 2:57 remaining in regulation Eagins buried a triple, pulling the Mustangs within 49-47.
With 47 ticks on the clock and the Mustangs down 53-49, Eagins hit another three, pulling the Mustangs within 53-52. With 46 seconds left, the Falcons threw the ball away.
This is all about our team,” Eagins said. “Everybody played so hard to get this win. With Wes out, I had to step up but could not have been successful, without my teammates.”
Enter Gamble
The Mustangs inbounded the ball and Timmeon Gamble was fouled with 29 seconds remaining.
Gamble would calmly nail the two game-winning free throws for a 54-53 Mustang lead after the Mustangs would turn the Falcons over again with 28 seconds remaining.
“Everyone here had us the underdogs, expecting us to lose,” Gamble said. “I had to make those free-throws and help us get this win. We all are playing really well and expect to win.”
Mustang junior Chris Gory scored his only two points of the game with 21 seconds left to conclude the game’s scoring.
A pair of Wheaton North desperation threes missed and Downers Grove South was on its way to the semifinals.
“Wow, what a win. This is the fourth year in a row Downers Grove South has been guaranteed five games here at York,”Olson said. “Wes Hooker is the heart and soul of our team. To win this crucial game, without Wes, is a credit to our whole team. Justin Eagins, just put us on his back and led us to this win!”
Sentinels take down previously, undefeated Romans for Westmont/ICCP title
Westmont (15-2) defeated Latin (10-1) to win the Sentinels’ own holiday tournament championship 50-34.
Wildcats fall in East Aurora final
Plainfield Central (7-7) lost in East Aurora’s Tomcat Classic to Wheaton Academy 53-48 (10-4) Saturday.