Frank Clair made every one of the five shots he took in the first half of Saturday night’s Class A championship game, but started slowing down noticeably in the second quarter.
“I really didn’t have my legs with two games in one day,” Clair said. “Coach [Noah Cannon] came up to me in the locker room at halftime and said I better step it up or he was going to sit me down.”
Properly inspired, Clair erupted for three energizing slam dunks that lifted Leo to a 65-57 victory over Winnebago for the school’s first state basketball title before a Carver Arena crowd of 11,587.
Clair’s 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks brought a smile to the face of his future coach, Northern Illinois’ Rob Judson, who simply winked at him from the stands.
“It’s a great feeling, and no other event in my life could live up to this,” said Clair, eyes puffy from all the tears and emotion pouring forth. “I’m on Cloud 9 right now and loving it.”
There are no big names, and consequently, no big egos on this basketball team from the South Side that is often overshadowed by the more glamorous sports programs in the Catholic League.
Leo’s leading scorers, Clair and Alan Downing, were told to shoot less so that the team could have a shot at winning its first title.
The best all-around player, 6-foot-7-inch Tracy Robinson, was told earlier in the season to give up his spot in the starting lineup so the team would have a smoother chemistry.
Nobody stands out individually, but that’s okay because these Lions are now the kings of Class A, following up Hales Franciscan’s Class A title last season.
This is the first time Chicago schools have won it back-to-back since Providence and Walter Downing triumphed in 1979 with Mike Conley-led Luther South following a year later.
“It’s unfortunate [Hales] was kicked out of the tournament [for rules violations], so it was like we were also playing for them,” Clair said.
They also played and sacrificed for Cannon, 26, the youngest coach to ever take home the big trophy.
“This is all about the kids,” Cannon said. “Look around at them–you see them crying. This makes them feel real special. I just feel blessed to have an opportunity like this.”
Winnebago (31-2) battled Leo (28-5) behind David Merchant with 14 points and Devan Bawinkel with 11 and stayed close until the final four minutes.
All that despite making just 19 of 62 shots against Leo’s clingy man-to-man defense spiced up by an occasional press. Winnebago launched 32 three-point shots with only six finding the mark. Leo shot 52 percent.
“Winnebago’s got a nice team and they stayed right with us,” Robinson said. “But in the end, it was our defense that made the difference.”
