NORMAL — Marist’s Karson Thomas missed a huge chunk of this season with a knee injury.
Thomas, a senior forward, knows that he’s still not at his best. But being able to play and contribute to the RedHawks sealing the first state trophy in program history?
That was invaluable for Thomas, no matter how many minutes he got.
“It meant everything,” Thomas said. “I’ve been out for two months, struggling, just trying to get back on the court. I’ve been doing physical therapy, just trying to strengthen my knee to get back out there. Senior year, I just want to be there for my team.
“We’ve got a chance to do something big and end it out with a bang.”
Thomas and the RedHawks are already doing something the program has never done.
They are headed to state for the first time as Thomas chipped in with five points Monday night and Marist scored the final seven points of the game to pull out a 56-53 win over Peoria Richwoods in the Class 4A Illinois State Supersectional at CEFCU Arena.
Charles Barnes finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead Marist (31-5). NC State football recruit Stephen Brown contributed 13 points and seven rebounds, while TJ Tate scored 12 points.
The RedHawks advanced to play at 2:30 p.m. Friday in a state semifinal at the State Farm Center in Champaign against York (32-4), which knocked off St. Ignatius 58-56 in overtime.
“I would say this has always been the goal to make it down to state,” Brown said. “I mean, I don’t think we’re done yet. We’ve still got a lot more to accomplish. I mean, we got two more games to win so we can be state champions.
“I feel like we’re gonna go get those two games. And that’s what we focus on right now.”
Amarion Smith-Holley led Peoria Richwoods (26-8) with 16 points, including a basket with 4:44 to go that gave the Knights a 53-49 lead.
Marist pitched a shutout the rest of the way, however, and scored the final seven points to punch its ticket to state. Tate had a big basket off a steal and Brown came up with a steal and a thunderous dunk to give the Redhawks the lead for good with 1:48 left.
“We just felt like we couldn’t let them score anymore,” Brown said. “They had the momentum at the time and we knew we had to stop them. We had to play the hardest defense possible.”
Thomas watched the finishing sequence with excitement from the bench. But Marist coach Brian Hynes knew Thomas’ contributions earlier in the game made a difference in a tight matchup.
“There’s just a mental bonus of knowing we can put Karson in,” Hynes said. “He’s an incredible body to have out there. We were happy for him. He got hurt again in the other game, so we were happy he was able to go in.”
Indeed, Thomas — who came back for the final week of the regular season — reinjured his knee late in the first half of Friday’s sectional final over Homewood-Flossmoor and did not return.
But he wasn’t going to be denied the chance to play Monday.
“I knew deep down that I’d be able to push through the pain,” Thomas said. “At the end of the day. I’m not 100% myself, obviously. I’ve lost a little bit of my athleticism.
“I just try to do the best I can to help my team win.”
Thomas scored on a drive at the end of the first quarter, hit a free throw in the second quarter and converted a key basket inside to pull Marist within 45-43 late in the third.
“That’s just grit,” Thomas said. “After I got hurt, I was so upset. I just want it. I want it for the team and the whole school.
“We’d be the first team in program history to win it all, so it’d be so special.”
