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Benet upsets Simeon

PEORIA - There were about 20 Benet players and coaches who believed the Redwings could shock the entire rest of the state by upsetting Simeon, the state's top-ranked team.

That was more than enough.

Dan Sobolewski's late 3-pointer gave Benet the lead for good in a stunning 49-48 victory over Simeon in Friday's Class 4A semifinals at Peoria's Carver Arena.

Topping the Wolverines and their Division I-caliber roster, Benet (31-3) will head to the title game for the second time in three years in search of the program's first state title.

The Redwings, who broke the program record for wins in a season with Friday's victory, face Curie (26-4) at 8:15 p.m. Saturday.

"We knew nobody gave us much of a chance," Sobolewski said. "But we had everyone believing and we knew we could do it. We knew we could play with anyone in the state."

Benet led for the bulk of the game until a 7-2 run gave Simeon (29-4) a 48-44 lead with 2:37 left on a bucket by Gonzaga-bound Zach Norvell, who led Simeon with 18 points. The Wolverines didn't score again.

They tried to eat up as much of the remaining clock as they could, but Jason Malonga scored to pull Benet within 48-46, and then Evan Gilyard missed a shot with just less than two minutes to play.

Sobolewski knocked down the 3-pointer with 1:37 left to put Benet back ahead at 49-48. The Redwings missed all four of their free-throw attempts in the final minute, but it didn't matter.

Sobolewski blocked Norvell's shot with three seconds left to give the ball back to Benet. The Wolverines' desperation 3-pointer missed at the buzzer, sending the Redwings into the final.

"I couldn't be any prouder," said Benet coach Gene Heidkamp. "That was a great game for us. These guys have really done it all year. I'm not sure if they're under the radar. I don't think they are. But they're 31-3 and they belong here. They proved that tonight."

The pace of the game went exactly to Benet's liking. With four starters - Sobolewski, Jason Malonga, Jack Nolan and James Dockery - all logging a full 32 minutes, the Redwings committed a total of only 6 fouls.

The deliberate pace allowed Benet to stem the tide a few times in the second half, especially late in the third quarter when Simeon grabbed leads of 38-36 and 41-39 on 3-pointers. Both times Nolan answered with 3-pointers to push Benet back ahead.

"I think they were a pretty big momentum-builder going into the fourth," Nolan said. "I love these teammates. I think a lot of them don't get the credit they deserve. It's great to be here with them."

As always, the Redwings relied on balance to frustrate an opponent's defensive efforts. Malonga, Sobolewski and Nolan scored 11 apiece while Dockery scored 9 and Liam Lyman 7 points.

Norvell managed only 2 second-half points after scoring 16 of his team's 27 first-half points. Evan Gilyard added 16 points.

"When we got to the middle of the third quarter, it just seemed like they wanted it more than we did," said Simeon coach Robert Smith. "You could feel it. As a coach, you know. We've been pulling these games out, but it comes to a time where that doesn't happen."

Winner of 16 straight games, Benet goes for 17 in a row on Saturday.

It'd be the biggest in program history.

"We knew we could pull it out if we played how we know how to play," Malonga said. "It's nice to see all the hard work pay off."

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