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Benet can't match Simeon in Pontiac finale

PONTIAC - The members of the Benet boys basketball team almost seemed in awe after their championship game against Simeon on Wednesday night.

One of only two teams to win four consecutive state championships in history, Simeon and its star-studded lineup limited the Redwings to a pair of field goals in the opening two quarters of the Pontiac Holiday Tournament.

The Wolverines seized control midway through the first quarter, holding Benet scoreless for almost the equivalent of an entire quarter in winning its unprecedented 12th Pontiac title with a 46-26 victory.

"It's really a different game against them," Benet guard Dan Sobolewski said. "They have DI talent up and down the lineup. They're like grown men out there."

"They're one of the best defensive teams I've ever played," Benet guard Colin Bonnett said. "Defensively, they're a load. Offensively, they have five kids who can score the ball."

Benet tied the game at 5-5 on Cameron Graves' conventional field goal and a 3-pointer by tournament MVP Bonnett.

But Benet would not score again until James Dockery scored in transition midway through the second quarter.

Simeon (9-1) ran off 12 straight points as the possessions in the contest were as methodical as the Wolverines were opportunistic.

Illinois recruit D.J. Williams scored 10 of his 12 points by the midpoint of the second quarter to spearhead the Wolverines' offensive attack.

Williams said the Wolverines' lone loss-to St. Rita-taught the squad a lesson.

"The St. Rita game, we weren't focused," Williams said. "We just came in really focused. We had to come out more focused and physical as a team."

The Redwings (9-3), who had their seven-game winning streak snapped, trailed 28-9 at halftime after Iowa recruit Isaiah Moss' 3-pointer at the buzzer for Simeon.

Benet showed signs of life early in the third quarter Dockery followed split free throws from Sobolewski with a long 3-pointer.

But it proved to be illusory as Ed Morrow, the Wolverines' dynamic Nebraska-bound post, blocked 3 point-blank Benet shots off the backboard to trigger breaks the other way.

The closest Benet came would be 36-18 after a late-third-quarter Sobolewski 3-pointer.

"They imposed their will on us," Benet coach Gene Heidkamp said. "They made us play so much faster than we wanted to. All the credit to them for their focus defensively. We had a great tournament, but we would have liked to play better (in the championship)."

Williams split two defenders on the opening possession of the fourth quarter and threw down a monster two-handed dunk to symbolize the Wolverines' dominance.

Morrow, the only unanimous first-team all-tournament selection other than Bonnett, blocked 5 Benet shots on the night.

Dockery had 8 points to lead Benet, which failed to reach double figures in any of the four quarters.

Simeon shot 61 percent (20-33) while holding the Redwings to a 26-percent clip (10-39).

Roland Griffin led four West Aurora starters in double figures with 16 points as the Blackhawks downed St. Charles North 62-55 in the third-place game.

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