Benet edges St. Charles North

PONTIAC - Colin Bonnett did not hesitate to seize his opportunity.

The Benet senior guard converted a 3-point play with 42.4 seconds remaining to give the Redwings a most precarious lead in the first semifinal of the Pontiac Holiday Tournament on Wednesday afternoon.

St. Charles North guard Jake Ludwig had a one-handed runner in the lane with seconds remaining fall tantalizingly short of the basket.

As a result, Benet advanced to the championship with a thrilling 41-40 victory over the North Stars at the prestigious boys basketball tournament.

Bonnett, who hit four 3-pointers in scoring a game-high 19 points, found a crack along the right baseline for the game-winner.

"They were playing real good help (defense) along the baseline," Bonnett said. "I kind of ball-faked a little bit. As soon as I saw (my defender) turn his head, I went for it. I leaned in hard for the shot, got the foul and the bucket."

Benet (9-2), which won its seventh straight game, had to overcome a 9-point halftime deficit as the North Stars (7-5), who had their five-game winning streak snapped, were almost flawless in the second quarter.

The North Stars scored 22 points in the quarter as Ludwig and fellow senior Jack Callaghan wreaked havoc with their ability to both score and create.

"It was definitely a tough matchup for us," Benet coach Gene Heidkamp said of the two North Stars leaders.

But the Redwings, who trailed 29-20 at the break, reversed the tide by holding St. Charles North to a lone Ludwig field goal during the third.

The Redwings' Dan Sobolewski then scored 9 consecutive points bridging the final two quarters to give Benet a 34-31 lead.

Ludwig, who finished with a team-high 15 points, hit a pair at the line with 61 seconds remaining to frame the final Bonnett possession.