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Fremd gets it in gear for 27th win

Over the past 30 years, there have been a trio of teams that have suffered an opening-round state tournament loss less than a week after enjoying the fruits of having captured a Mid-Suburban League Championship.

In 1987, Schaumburg, fresh off winning its first MSL title fell victim to a 4-win Streamwood team at Addison Trail.

Five years later, in the second year of the IHSA sectional complex seeding format, MSL champ and sectional top seed Hersey saw its season come to an abrupt end to a 16th-seeded Lake Park squad.

In 2010, the most recent example of such a postseason shocker in regional semifinal play took place when a 24-1 MSL champion Fremd squad, the Class 4A Waukegan sectional's No. 2 seed, suffered a 73-58 upset loss at 15th-seeded Schaumburg. That win fueled the Saxons' state tournament run that ended in a sectional title game loss on Waukegan's home floor.

So the coach of that same Fremd squad, Bob Widlowski, was prepared on Tuesday night.

He had an undefeated MSL kingpin that featured strong senior leadership that goes nine deep and has kept its focus in winning its first 26 games.

The Vikings successfully kept that focus through victory No. 27, as Fremd topped No. 16 Schaumburg 52-40 in semifinal play at the Class 4A Hoffman Estates regional.

The Vikings advance to Friday's regional final against the winner of Wednesday's semifinal between No. 8 Hersey (14-11) and No. 9 Grayslake North (18-9).

"Schaumburg gave a great effort tonight," Widlowski said. "Having been in situations like this all season long, we've come to expect that opposing teams will be coming very hard at us."

Fremd erased an 11-9 deficit at the end of the first period with an 11-4 second-quarter effort, thanks to 7 of senior guard Kyle Sliwa's 12 points.

It started with Sliwa's 3-point play with 4:42 left in the half that put the Vikings ahead to stay at 14-13.

Two more successful offerings from the foul line by the 6-foot Sliwa gave Fremd a 20-15 edge at half.

Then two other members of Widlowski's senior class, 6-4 forward Shaan Patel (11 points) and 6-foot guard Luke Schoffstall, joined forces. They combined for 9 points in another 11-4 surge in the third quarter.

Fremd opened a 31-19 advantage when another Fremd senior, 6-6 Patrick Dompke (8 points, 5 rebounds), followed through on his own miss to cap the run with 3:50 left in the period.

"Our coaches have been preaching to us to take things one team at a time, one game at a time," said Schoffstall, who paced Fremd with 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. "You've got to give credit to Schaumburg. They fought us tough tonight. We have tremendous respect for them."

Despite falling behind by double digits, Schaumburg (11-17) made one final run.

A 7-1 tear led by 5 consecutive points from senior guard Aaron Kline, including a basket off a feed from Heze Trotter (10 Points), pulled Schaumburg to within 42-36 just 17 seconds into the final quarter.

The 6-foot Kline, a three-year varsity player, completed his career with a game-high 20 points.

However, just as quickly as the Saxons had rallied back into contention, a 7-0 Vikings surge settled things once and for all.

Schoffstall's 3, preceded by his assist to Patel in the paint, began the decisive run that left Fremd ahead 39-26 with 5:32 remaining.

Schaumburg got no closer than 10 the rest of the way.

"We gave them a run for their money," Kline said. "We had a great first half, but then it got away from us and we couldn't make it all the way back."

While its season came to end, Saxons second-year coach Wade Heisler sees his program's proverbial glass more than half-full.

Schaumburg's win total from last season improved by 5, and the Saxons won a postseason game.

"I like the direction that our entire program is heading from our lower levels to our feeder teams," Heisler said. "Our coaches are extremely dedicated. As far as tonight's game, it was one of the toughest efforts by our team this season. I couldn't be more proud of a group of guys than I was this evening."

That pride extended itself to his four departing seniors - Kline, fellow three-year varsity player Kameron Powell, Dan Pyde and Dakari Ferguson.

"Those guys have given me a ton of effort as well as providing me with great leadership," Heisler added. "This has been one of my favorite teams that I've ever coached and one of the closest also."

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