St. Edward ousts IC Catholic
Being the sole seniors in St. Edward coach Andy Zielinski's top rotation, David Hill and Daniel Parks weren't going down without a fight.
Being fighters, they didn't go down.
The Green Wave won a 49-45 grinder against IC Catholic Prep in a Class 2A Timothy Christian regional semifinal Wednesday at Ward Athletic Center in Elmhurst.
"We really wanted this one as a team, especially me and Dan since it could be our last game as seniors," said Hill, who scored a game-high 22 points including 8 of 12 from the free-throw line.
"We each wanted to get that one as much as possible," he said.
No. 6 seed St. Edward (14-17) will seek its second regional title in three seasons on Friday against No. 2 Timothy Christian (19-10). The Green Wave is 0-2 this season against the Trojans, losing the first game by 3 points and the second by 29.
No. 4 seed IC Catholic (11-17) had beaten St. Edward by 4 earlier this season. On Wednesday points again were at a premium. After St. Edward sophomore Jackson Godfrey's turnaround fadeaway capped the rare scoring run for a 20-18 halftime edge the lead changed 10 times in the second half with eight ties.
"I think the difference was at the free-throw line," said Knights coach T.J. Tyrrell. "We were 2 for 7, they were 16 of 22, so not being able to get to the free-throw line and when we're there not being able to capitalize, that was the difference in a game that is that close."
In the fourth quarter St. Edward made 9 of 12 free throws and three makes finished three-point plays, two by Hill. They alternated with 3-point baskets by his sophomore brother, Erik Hill.
"We just scrap and claw and grind," Zielinski said.
The third "and-1"came when David Hill zinged a 30-foot pass to Parks for a reverse layup, the foul and the free throw for a 43-37 lead with 1:34 to play.
"I saw David kind of get pressured up top and everyone kind of left me open, and I just found a gap and he threw it to me," said Parks, who joined Erik Hill with 8 points apiece. Sparkplug Sabastian Oquendo scored 5 and Godfrey bagged 4 steals.
ICCP guard Chauncey Lee answered with a runner in the lane and Zach Jordan hit his second and third 3s of the quarter to bring the Knights within 46-45 with 18.6 seconds left. Parks made 3 of 4 free throws for the final margin.
Dom Gaudio and Ryan Wojtalewicz scored 14 and 12 points, respectively, to lead IC Catholic. Jordan scored 9 for the Knights, who will bring everyone back but seniors Michael Carpanzano and the injured Ryan Asmussen.
"We're going to really miss them," Gaudio said. "Very good depth and good 3-point shooting from the outside. It'll be a long season next year without them."