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Benet sneaks past Willowbrook

The Benet boys basketball team knew how tough each playoff game would be, but the Redwings were given a reminder Tuesday night when they needed everything they had to hold off Willowbrook 56-46 in a semifinal of Benet's own Class 4A regional.

The Warriors, seeded 17th in the East Aurora sectional, gave the top-seeded Redwings another lesson in the realization that no matter what the seeds are or the records are, getting through the postseason can be a brutal business.

"We knew that this would be a tough game and it proved to be," said Benet coach Gene Heidkamp. "They did nothing we didn't expect. We didn't play our best game, and give Willowbrook credit."

The Redwings (26-3) advance to the regional final at 7 p.m. Friday against the winner of Wednesday's second semifinal between eighth-seeded Wheaton Warrenville South and ninth-seeded Naperville Central.

Benet led 12-8 after the first eight minutes on 5-of-7 shooting from the field, while the Warriors (11-19) were just 3 of 9. Roles reversed in the second quarter when Willowbrook's shooting went hot and the Redwings went cold.

The Warriors' Ethan Schuemer, the game-high scorer with 19 points in the Monday quarterfinal win over Addison Trail, hit for a bucket with 30 seconds left to give his team a 21-19 lead at halftime. He finished Tuesday with 10 points.

"It wasn't a case of being patient on offense, per se, but taking what the defense gave us," said Willowbrook coach Chris Perkins.

Benet missed 5 of its first 7 free-throw attempts in the third quarter. But a turnover turned into a James Dockey drive through the lane to put the Redwings up 27-23, their biggest advantage since the first quarter.

Then Willowbrook's Matt Meyers, who led his team with 12 points, quickly responded with two free throws and a basket to tie the game at 27 with 3:15 remaining left in the third quarter.

Dockey again made his way through the lane with 32 seconds left to put Benet up 35-30, but Schuemer closed the quarter with a field goal to put his team to within 35-32.

Benet heated up at the free-throw line enough in the fourth quarter, making 15 of 27, to finally open its lead to double digits with 3:36 remaining in the game.

"We came out in the second half and had a couple of turnovers early. That changed the momentum," Perkins said. "The defense then applied pressure to get back into the game the game and fouls were called and that started to slow us up."

The play of Benet seniors Dockery, Dan Sobolewski and Jason Malonga was crucial to the Redwings taking control of the game. Dockery scored 14 of his game-high 21 points in the final two quarters. Sobolewski hit for 11 of his 18 in the second half and Malonga scored all of his 9 points in the second half as well.

"Down the stretch, especially in the second half, the team was looking to the seniors," Sobolewski said. "We had been here before (playoff pressure). I didn't want my career to end tonight."

Another test awaits Benet on Friday night.

"The sectional is so deep and competitive. Winning a regional is a big deal. We'll have to play better. We will be playing a very good team," Heidkamp said.

Images: Benet Academy over Willowbrook, 56-46 in regional boys basketball

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