Famous last words: We stank, but we did it.
Stevenson coach Ken Johnson will take it however he can get it. So what if his team squandered a 13-point lead. So what if the Patriots faced a three- point deficit with :59 left in the game.
What mattered in the game was a 6-footer by sophomore Kenyon Catchings that rang true as the buzzer sounded. Ka-Ching.
Stevenson 69, Highland Park 67. The Patriots move on to the Sweet 16 for the first time in the school`s history after Friday night`s win in the sectional final at Waukegan.
Stevenson (27-1) played a 24-5 Highland Park team it had faced the first game of the season and beaten by just four points 81-77.
Friday night, the lead see-sawed in the fourth quarter until Highland Park`s Peter Ledford (14 points), who had been cold all night, took charge. The senior went inside for a lay-in, then repeated the play on the next possession and drew a foul. His pair of free throws gave the Giants a 67-64 lead with just under a minute left.
Then Stevenson`s Jonas Jocson drew a foul and made one free throw. On the rebound, Stevenson`s Eric Roth (21 points) was fouled and calmly made the shots to tie the score.
After a missed free throw at Highland Park`s end by Brian Eldridge, the stage was set for Catchings` improbable shot after two Stevenson jump shots had bounced off the rim.
”I saw Eric in position, and I just wanted to fill the position,” said Catchings. ”When I released it, I knew it was on. I had no idea how much time was left. I just started jumping up and down.”
Catchings finished the night with 13 points.
”We didn`t want to call time out, so we called our offense from the bench,” said Johnson. ”We average five guys in double figures, and we beat you to the board, so that was the plan. If the first shot missed, take another one.”
The plan hadn`t worked that well in the second half.
Stevenson star Chris Coleman was shut out after netting 10 first-half points. He drew his third foul halfway through the third quarter but claimed it didn`t hinder his play.
”They just weren`t falling for me,” Coleman said.
Highland Park`s Josh Barnett picked up where Coleman left off. Barnett scorched the floor for twos and threes for 28 points. His 14 third-quarter points, key steals and rebounds kept Highland Park in the game after they faced an 11-point halftime deficit and trailed 44-31 early in the third.
Barnett`s basket at the third-quarter buzzer put Highland Park down by just two at 53-51.
That set the stage for a close fourth quarter. Highland Park survived by making six free throws until 4:40 left in the game when Barnett`s layup gave the Giants their first field goal of the quarter and first lead of the game at 60-59.
”Josh likes to play against us,” said Johnson. ”Luckily, he won`t get to anymore.
”He helped them beat our press, and we were a little lethargic until, really, the fourth quarter.”
But Johnson couldn`t complain at the end. ”Kenyon comes to practice and never says a word. He takes instruction. He doesn`t have an ego. He sacrifices for his teammates.”
What more could Johnson say.
