Senior guard/forward Cameron Cleveland remembered Leo’s last game against DePaul Prep, mainly because he couldn’t be a part of it.
Cleveland was sidelined with a sprained MCL that threatened to end his season.
“It was my senior night and I wasn’t able to play,” he said. “We lost that game. I knew if I could help in some way that we could beat them.”
The 6-foot-3 Cleveland endured a grueling rehab process, but he got his opportunity Monday night in a rematch against the Rams. Even while playing through pain, he wanted to get the Lions over the hump.
Leo staged a late comeback and forced overtime, but ultimately lost 50-43 to DePaul in the Class 2A Joliet Central Supersectional.
Although Cleveland confirmed the injury impacted his play, he refused to let it keep him on the bench for such a crucial game.
“It was very important for me,” Cleveland said. “I knew we could go far with the team we had. I thought me being in there was just going to give us that extra boost we needed.
“I was fighting and fighting to come back. I knew my team could do it on their own, but I didn’t want to leave my brothers hanging.”
Cleveland helped Leo (25-5) get off to a scorching start, scoring seven of his 13 points in the first quarter. The Lions also counted on him defensively to go up against 6-9 forward Dylan Arnett.
Cleveland’s refusal to back down from the challenge despite the six-inch difference in height only earned him more praise from Leo coach Jamal Thompson.
“He gave me all that he’s got,” Thompson said of Cleveland. “There were some things he could’ve done extra for us, but he’s coming off an injury right now. I can’t do nothing but respect him for that.”
Leo carried a 22-7 lead into the second quarter, but DePaul’s length soon became too much to handle. The Lions were outscored 26-6 over the second and third quarters and desperately needed a jolt.
They got one when Cleveland’s 3-pointer tied the game with five minutes left in the fourth quarter.
After spending the past month rehabbing his knee before two-hour practice sessions, Cleveland wasn’t about to let his team go down without a fight.
And that effort wasn’t lost on junior guard Tyler Smith.
“He worked on his knee and rehabbed it every single day just so he could be ready,” Smith said of Cleveland. “I can’t ask anything else from him. He gave it his all and went out like a real man.”
Smith scored four of his eight points in the final minutes of the fourth to help Leo force OT. He then hit a pair of free throws in the extra session to cut DePaul’s lead to three points.
But the Lions couldn’t get any closer, falling just short of the state semifinals.
After the game, Thompson hoped the performance of his guards caught the attention of those who had doubted Leo throughout this season.
“Those guards I have are the best in the state,” he said. ” … all of them cannot touch these guys I’ve got.
“I’ve been holding that in. These boys need to have some respect around this state.”
It’s safe to say Cleveland also earned plenty of respect Monday night. He fought through a brutal injury to ensure he could put the finishing touches on a memorable senior season.
“It’s one of those that I will never forget,” Cleveland said. “These boys are more than just my teammates. They’re my brothers.”
Casey Drottar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
