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Marengo ends Aurora Central Catholic's surprise run

It's not often Aurora Central Catholic plays a team that likes the 3-point shot as much as it does, but the Chargers found their match Tuesday night in the Class 3A Rochelle sectional semifinals.

Aurora Central fired away like always, draining 11 from beyond the arc led by sophomore Brett Czerak's 5. Marengo did them one better making 12, sparked by the state's record holder Zach Knobloch whose 30-point night included six 3s and 8-of-9 free throws.

Two of Knobloch's 3s came on back-to-back possessions late in the fourth quarter after the Chargers had trimmed a 10-point deficit to 1. That was as close as they got, Marengo winning 76-67 to end Aurora Central Catholic's surprise postseason run.

“They are a great shooting team,” said the Chargers' lone senior, Mario May. “We knew we had to stop 25 (Knobloch). They shot better than us tonight.”

Marengo (26-6) will play the winner of Wednesday's semifinal between Rockford Lutheran and Hampshire for the championship Friday.

Aurora Central Catholic (15-15) had its chances despite trailing the entire second half. Knobloch made 2 free throws with .7 seconds left in the third quarter to give Marengo a 57-48 lead going to the fourth after an intentional foul call on the Chargers with Knobloch trying to get off a buzzer-beater.

“That was ridiculous,” said Chargers coach Nate Drye. “You can't call that.”

The Chargers quickly pulled closer in the fourth, starting with 2 free throws from freshman Kyle Czerak and then May's basket to trail 57-52.

That was the start of May's 14-point fourth quarter.

“We wanted to make a concerted effort to get the ball into him down the stretch,” Drye said. “He was terrific all night. It really stinks we had to lose because we wanted to send him out better. He went out guns blazing. He brought us all the way back.”

Marengo missed two straight front ends of 1-and-1s. May scored inside on a 3-point play, then after taking a charge on the defensive end he split free throws with 3:56 remaining to pull the Chargers within 57-56.

Knoblock's 3 was quickly matched by Czerak's 3, leaving the Chargers down 60-59 until Knobloch drained another for a 63-59 lead. May again went to work inside with a basket and a 3-point play, getting Aurora Central within a point — 65-64 — for a third time.

The Chargers got the ball back but missed an open 3.

“If we knock down the shot and take the lead it's a different ballgame,” Drye said. “It's just how games go.”

Marengo called timeout with 1:50 remaining and ran a perfect backdoor lob pass to Weston Shepard for a lay-in. Evan Schuetz was called for his fifth foul away from the ball on the play, and Marengo also made 2 free throws for a 4-point possession and a 69-64 lead.

“We saw how that could be open against the diamond-and-1,” Marengo coach Nate Wright said. “We've run that play maybe four times all year and we've run it to perfection all four times.”

That was a backbreaker for the Chargers. May made a 3 with 1:08 remaining to bring the Chargers within 70-67. They didn't score again while Marengo sealed the game hitting 6 of 8 free throws including 3 from Knobloch.

“That's him,” Wright said of Knobloch's clutch 3s. “Every shot is the same. He repeats it so much day in and day out at practice. He's shot thousands of those.”

The Chargers started fast, leading 7-0 on Brett Czerak's basket and 3, and a score inside by May. Czerak and Mac Cowen hit 3s later in the quarter, which ended with the Chargers ahead 17-15.

Koty Kissack nailed a 3-pointer to open the second quarter, giving the Indians their first lead. It also was the first of 6 lead changes in an entertaining back-and-forth quarter that saw the teams trade 3s like they were layups.

“They showed they can shoot,” Wright said. “Both teams were doing whatever they could to guard the perimeter and neither did a very good job of it. In the end I don't think it matters how much you are in the face when you have two teams who can shoot like that. It's just going to be a matter of who knocks down the last one. Luckily tonight it was us.”

May found Schuetz to give the Chargers their last lead, 34-33. Knobloch gave Marengo a boost heading into halftime with a deep 3 to beat the buzzer for a 39-34 lead.

“That was our fault,” Drye said. “We know better than to help off him. He's a terrific player. All the credit goes to him.”

Marengo scored 5 quick points to start the third quarter and open a 10-point lead, a deficit the Chargers chased but never could quite close the rest of the way.

“We weren't able to pull over the last hump,” said May, who had 23 points, 11 rebounds and made 7 of 8 free throws. “I just knew I had a size advantage inside. I knew I didn't want to be done and did everything I could to put us in position to win.”

Brett Czerak added 19 points and Schuetz scored 10, two of the key players who will return from a team that upset Marmion and Glenbard South to win a regional title.

“I'm really proud of my guys,” said Drye who like his players was unaware immediately after the game of the car accident involving ACC students traveling to the game.

“They did a great job down the stretch. We came a long way through the course of the year. Kids made a great run at the end. It was never really easy this year. Kids stuck with it and kept improving and it paid off here at the end. We had a great chance to win tonight.”

Images: Aurora Central Catholic vs. Marengo, boys sectional basketball

  Flanked by teammates Nick Faltz, left, and Jake Bush, right, Aurora Central Catholic's Will Courter hides his face in his jersey as the last few minutes tick down in the nail-biter of a fourth quarter vs. Marengo in the Class 3A Rochelle sectional semifinal Tuesday. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  Marengo's Zach Knobloch, left, and Aurora Central Catholic's Evan Schuetz fight for a rebound in the second quarter of the Class 3A Rochelle sectional semifinal Tuesday. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  Flanked by teammates Nick Faltz, left, and Jake Bush, right, Aurora Central Catholic's Will Courter peeks at the scoreboard behind his jersey as the last few minutes tick down in the nail-biter of a fourth quarter vs. Marengo in the Class 3A Rochelle sectional semifinal Tuesday. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  Aurora Central Catholic's Mac Cowen hangs his head as he leaves the court after the Chargers' loss to Marengo in the Class 3A Rochelle sectional semifinal Tuesday. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  Marengo's Zach Knobloch, left, and Aurora Central Catholic's Mario May scramble for a loose ball in the first quarter of the Class 3A Rochelle sectional semifinal Tuesday. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  Aurora Central Catholic's Evan Schuetz, top left, and teammate Maro May, right, sandwich Marengo's Hunter Simonini as they all leap for a rebound in the third quarter of the Class 3A Rochelle sectional semifinal Tuesday. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
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