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Sharp shooting sends Benet past York

Benet's boys basketball team must shoot well to make another deep playoff run.

Keep shooting - and sharing - like they did on Tuesday and the Redwings will be back in Peoria in a couple of weeks.

In one of the Redwings' best offensive efforts of the season, Jack Nolan and Liam Lyman combined for nine of the team's 12 3-pointers as Benet rolled to a 54-34 victory over York in the Class 4A York regional semifinals in Elmhurst.

Third-seeded Benet (23-6) advances to Friday's regional final to face Wednesday's winner between No. 11 DeKalb (19-10) and No. 6 Wheaton North (21-6). The Redwings will vie for their sixth regional title in eight years.

"Moving the ball and playing unselfishly was clicking tonight," said Benet senior guard Matt Teglia. "We were just hitting shots on all cylinders."

Thanks to impressive ball movement, all 12 3-pointers came in the first three quarters, including five to account for all 15 Benet points in the third quarter.

The defensive effort also stood out in the first half. At one point the Redwings held No. 14 York (14-16) scoreless for 6 minutes, 26 seconds and without a field goal for 12 minutes, 40 seconds.

"It was hard," said Dukes sophomore Sam Walsh, who led his team with 13 points. "We gave them open looks, and kept trying to bounce back from it."

After Nick Trapani gave York its only lead of 3-0, Nolan knocked down four first-half 3-pointers to help Benet build a 19-5 lead early in the second quarter. Feeling the brunt of an 11-0 run, York never again narrowed the gap to single digits.

"They were really good tonight," said York coach Vince Doran. "We'll learn from it. We have a young team, so it was a good experience to play a team like that. I feel bad for our seniors right now."

Benet dominated in its third straight postseason meeting against the Dukes with an effort highlighted by assists on most of the night's 19 baskets. Lyman scored a game-high 16 points and Nolan tallied 15 points. Justin Enochs scored 10 points and Teglia had 9 points.

Jordan Gray, one of only three seniors on York's roster, scored 9 points.

"We shot the ball very well, but what was more important was how we got the shots," said Benet coach Gene Heidkamp. "I thought we were really unselfish tonight. That was one of the best efforts we've had all year as far as sharing the ball and moving the ball."

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