At 6-foot-4, senior guard Jordan Baum is Deerfield’s tallest player. Five of the top seven players in Notre Dame’s regular rotation, however, are 6-6 or taller.
“You have to give them credit,” Baum said afterward. “That’s a great team.”
Deerfield’s great season ended Friday night in the championship game of the Class 4A Glenbrook South Sectional as the Dons used their superior size at both ends for a 69-48 victory.
Playing in its first sectional final since 1997, Deerfield (28-4) had stitched together an ideal season by playing aggressive and unselfish basketball, using discipline, skill and speed to offset its lack of size.
But the Warriors’ 17-game winning streak came undone as Notre Dame (25-6) scored the first six points and never trailed. Deerfield recovered from the run, but struggled to find a resolution.
Junior forward Josh Maize came off the bench in the first quarter and provided an instant boost with six points as the Warriors pulled within 20-13 at the break.
Senior forward Jeremy Sernick pointed out the difference.
“We were able to handle their first run,” Sernick said. “Josh gave us a good lift, but then we stopped scoring and they had their second run.”
The game was essentially over at halftime. Notre Dame ended the second quarter on a 12-0 run for a commanding 41-18 lead.
Baum scored 10 of his game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter. Sernick was the only other Deerfield player to reach double figures. He scored eight of his 13 points in the third quarter.
Sernick drilled two 3-pointers at the start of the third quarter, providing a jolt of hope. But the deficit was just too great to mount an effective counter.
“That’s really the first time this year a team has been able to pass over the top of our press the way that they did,” Deerfield coach Dan McKendrick said.
“Our style of play all year, we have been able very successful at scoring the basketball. Their length and physicality made it hard for us to score baskets. When you’re not scoring it’s a lot easier to shoot at the other end. They shot tremendously well.”
Notre Dame led by as many as 28 points and had nine players score. Anthony D’Avanzo, a 6-7 center, led with 13.
“We had a game plan, they had a game plan, and they did a good job of executing what they wanted to do,” Baum said.
“In the second half we threw a punch at them and they responded. All year we’ve thrown big enough punches and teams haven’t been able to respond, but give them credit because they really did.”
Deerfield captured Central Suburban League title and reached a sectional with Baum as its only returning starter from a year ago.
“We did more than anybody ever thought we were possibly able to do,” McKendrick said.
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance writer for the News-Sun.
Friday’s local sectional finals
Class 4A Fremd
Conant 59, Lake Zurich 48 (2 OT)
Class 4A Glenbrook South
Notre Dame 69, Deerfield 48
