CHAMPAIGN — Evan Nagler suffered a thumb injury during Deerfield’s Class 3A sectional semifinal game against Wauconda.
That was four games ago.
“There was no choice but to play through it,” Nagler said. “The first couple of games were tough, and then when we got downstate, it started feeling a little bit better.
“All of us were playing through injuries. It shows the grit and toughness of this team.”
Still playing with his shooting hand wrapped, Nagler nearly willed the Warriors to their first state title on Saturday in his final high school game. The 6-foot-2 senior guard scored nine of his 13 points during an impressive third-quarter comeback, but East St. Louis pulled out a 52-46 win in the state championship game at the State Farm Center.
“He’s been underestimated for how tough he is and for how athletic he is,” Deerfield coach Dan McKendrick said. “People don’t always notice it. Offensive rebounding, he has a knack for it that very few guards have. He played through a lot. I’m just proud of him.”
Dartmouth recruit Jake Pollack, a 6-foot-8 senior forward, had a team-high 15 points, five rebounds and four assists for Deerfield (25-12), which lost seven of its first 13 games in the new year but bounced back with eight straight wins to reach the state final for the first time in team history. Junior guard Tommy Donahue added 10 points and a team-high six rebounds.
Penn State recruit Jamison White, a 6-foot-7 senior forward, had game highs of 19 points and 17 rebounds for East St. Louis (33-4), which also won the 3A state title in 2019.
“We fell short tonight, but no one expected us to be there,” Nagler said. “That’s one of the best teams in the state, and we gave them a run for their money.”
Nagler’s season started with a 24-point first half in a lopsided win over Antioch. Similar scoring outbursts from the Case Western Reserve recruit were not forthcoming, of course. But that game served as a noteworthy bookend to a season, both for him and for the Warriors, that contained a fair share of obstacles but ultimately ended with Nagler having a prominent hand in team history, even with an injured one.
“Talk about a team that’s had some ups and downs,” he said. “We started off super hot, won our first tournament. Then we got into conference play, start struggling a little. It was frustrating, to say the least, during some of those stretches.
“What kept me going is knowing the type of kids we have on our team. I always knew that at some point we were going to flip the switch, and that mental comfort to me was huge.”
Having Nagler at the helm through it all was comforting for Deerfield. All of what he brings to the court on a game-by-game basis was on display as he and his teammates climbed uphill against the Flyers, who led 29-22 at halftime.
Nagler’s baseline drive in the final minute of the third quarter cut the lead to 37-36, and the Warriors stayed within striking distance so that his open look from 3-point range with 1:31 left would have tied the game.
The last basket of Nagler’s high school career was a driving left-handed layup with 2 1/2 minutes left. He scored several other times with his off hand.
“The last couple of games, there have been a lot of lefty buckets,” he said. “Maybe it was something in my mind, but I didn’t have time to think about it.”
Pollack’s two free throws with 42.6 seconds remaining cut the lead to 47-46, but Deerfield couldn’t get over the top.
After the game, Pollack reflected on his relationship with Nagler.
“I’ve been playing with him for six-ish years, and he’s my brother,” Pollack said. “I love him so much and am so appreciative for all that he’s given me and given us.
“He’s worked so hard to get where he is. All he’s done is work harder and harder, and I’m very grateful that he was the one that I got to share the court with for so long.”
Despite the loss, Nagler understands what they accomplished together and expects that he will appreciate it more in time.
“It’s immortality,” he said. “No team in Deerfield history had ever done what we did. Obviously, right now I’m not looking too fondly at this game, but I know in a few weeks or months when I look back at this whole experience, being able to get that trophy and have my medal is going to mean a lot.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
