Michael Monahan made countless big shots Friday night.
But the Grayslake Central junior guard maintained a stoic expression throughout, even after hitting two key 3-pointers.
“I just try to stay locked in during the game,” Monahan said. “Every missed shot, I just tried to forget about it and move on to the next one. I just tried to play my hardest and best.”
Monahan, a 3-point specialist, rarely a missed shot, however — before and during the Class 3A Grayslake Central Regional championship game.
After advancing in the Illinois High School Association’s 3-point contest, Monahan scored 13 points to lead the sixth-seeded Rams to a 53-47 overtime win against fourth-seeded Deerfield.
Grayslake Central (22-11) earned its first regional title in 10 years, and after the final buzzer sounded, Monahan leaped into a wild celebration near his team’s bench.
“It was fun to finally let loose,” he said. “I was just feeling it today, and my shots were falling. When I got the ball outside and was open, I had the green light. I just tried to knock down the shots when I got the opportunity.”
Grayslake Central coach Brian Centella, whose team will play top-seeded Lake Forest (26-6) in a North Chicago Sectional semifinal at 7 p.m. Tuesday, said Monahan played a solid two-way game and managed to keep his composure.
“Michael is tough as nails,” Centella said. “He hits big shots, defends and never complains. He’s everything you want as a player. He’s ice on the court and so even-keeled.”
Junior guard Dennis Estepp scored a team-high 15 points for the Rams, and senior forward Brendan Whalen added 13 points and eight rebounds. Senior forward Darryl Overstreet fouled out in overtime but had 10 points and nine rebounds, and junior center Jake Gibson blocked five shots.
The Rams needed all those contributions to withstand a monumental performance by Luke Woodson, a Drake football recruit who scored a game-high 22 points for Deerfield (18-11). The senior point guard hit a 29-footer from directly in front of his team’s bench with 2.4 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game to overtime.
The 6-foot-2 Monahan said it was a tough chore attempting to slow down Woodson.
“I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily the best scorer on the team, but I’m the guy usually guarding the best player on the other team, and I love that role,” Monahan said. “Woodson is a strong player, and I just tried my best to keep him out of the paint and force him to his left. He made some tough shots, but I just tried my hardest.”
Monahan was efficient in his shooting too. His 3-pointer from the wing handed the Rams their first lead, 29-26, late in the third quarter, he rattled home a 3-pointer from 23 feet as time expired in the third quarter, and he scored four straight points during a 30-second span in overtime.
“Monahan’s 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter was a killer,” Deerfield coach Dan McKendrick said. “I feel bad for our kids and Luke Woodson. He has that clutch gene and had such a competitiveness and fire. I’m going to miss him and the rest of the seniors.”
Whalen said Monahan’s shooting in the 3-point contest was foreshadowing.
“Michael is one of our streakier shooters, and you can tell he loves shooting at home,” Whalen said. “He heated up toward the end of the 3-point contest, so I knew he would have a stroke during the game. He made some big free throws to seal the game, which shows how big of a competitor he is.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
