ACC stuns No. 1 seed Marmion

Aurora Central Catholic had monster late-game heroics from two separate players in the semifinals of the Class 3A IMSA regional on Tuesday night in Aurora.

But senior Mario May has been a conspicuous figure all season for the Chargers' boys basketball team.

Marmion could never have envisioned Kyle Czerak applying daggers.

Czerak, a freshman, hit three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, and later hit a pair of clutch free throws after May had a critical 3-point play in the Chargers' 72-67 victory over the Cadets.

ACC, the fourth seed, improved to 14-14 and will face either Glenbard South or St. Francis in the championship game on Friday.

Marmion bowed out of the playoffs with a 17-12 mark.

"I didn't even expect to be out there in the fourth quarter," said Czerak, who scored all 13 of his points in the final eight minutes. "I never thought that I would be up here (on varsity), doing this, especially making those kind of (pressure) shots."

Jake Esp, who scored 5 straight points with less than two minutes remaining, gave Marmion its first lead, 62-61, on an inside bucket.

But May came right back for ACC; the post converted a 3-point play with 55 seconds left to give the Chargers the lead for good.

"I got bumped from behind and was able to finish it," said May, who tied Brett Czerak for team-scoring honors with 21 points.

On the Cadets' ensuing possession, May intercepted a pass intended for Esp.

"I knew they were going to go to Esp," May said. "They were going into the high post the whole game, and I was able to jump it."

ACC would still have to survive one final onslaught by the Cadets' Jordan Glasgow. The southpaw guard scored 23 of his 24 points in the second half.

"(Glasgow) is a whale of a player," ACC coach Nate Drye said.

But the younger Czerak and May combined for 4 free throws in the waning seconds to cement the game for ACC.

Brett Czerak and May had 3-pointers to close out the second quarter and give ACC a 30-26 lead at halftime.

The Chargers would then hold Marmion scoreless for almost four minutes and 40 seconds.

But Glasgow hit a 3-pointer to end the drought; the Cadets proceeded to close out the third quarter with 18 points over the last three-plus minutes.

Glasgow ended the quarter with a bomb at the buzzer to bring Marmon within 45-44.

"It could have been the last game of the season," Glasgow said of his second-half performance. "I just kind of shot (the buzzer-beater). It was a big momentum-changer. But they kind of negated it with their start (to the fourth)."

Esp had 21 points for Marmion before fouling out late.