Marian Catholic holds off dramatic Willowbrook rally
With the first option shut down, Matas Masys took the only natural route with a foray to the basket.
Willowbrook seized the momentum and stormed back from a 19-point deficit to trail 54-52 in the closing seconds. Coach Chris Perkins designed a 3-point attempt for the dramatic win. Marian Catholic denied that look.
Masys broke down the left wing toward the basket only to watch his shot fail get misdirected at the rim.
"I tried to beat my guy off the basket and he was riding my hip," Masys said. "I had him beat and he came across and hit my hand. I thought it was a foul, but you can't put the referees in the position to make that call.
"I have to get a better shot for my team."
The Warriors demonstrated guile and resolve against a top program and showed they are a team to reckon with in the 58-54 loss in the quarterfinals of the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic on Thursday.
Masys finished with 13 points for the Warriors (7-4), who move to the fifth-place bracket game against St. Charles East at 3:45 p.m. Friday.
Junior guard Ahron Ulis scored 19 points and senior center Christopher White had 13 points and 12 rebounds in leading the Spartans (11-1), who finished third in the Class 3A tournament last year.
Willowbrook made a statement worth savoring. With no starter over 6-foot-2, the Warriors displayed tremendous desire, hustle and determinaton after trailing 36-20 at the half.
The Warriors limited Marian Catholic to just four second-half baskets.
Despite shooting 19 of 61 from the field and converting just 4 of 24 on 3-point attempts, Willowbrook nearly sprung the upset through its relentless pressure that effectively destabilized Marian Catholic and forced 22 turnovers.
"What really turned the game around for us was our defense," Masys said. "We turned it up, we trapped half and full court and that really speed them up. I don't think they were used to be trapped like that."
Playing in his first varsity Christmas tournament, junior guard Everett Stubblefield III continued to impress with his all-around game. He scored a team-high 17 points and added 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals.
He willed the Warriors back into the game.
"In this tournament I want to get my name out there more and stop being overlooked," Stubblefield said. "I want to be recognized as one of the top guards in the Class of 2020. At the start of the game, they were longer, so we had to adjust to their body size and use our quickness and speed to get open shots."
Scott Tumilty added 8 points and Sam Tumilty contributed 6 points. Jack Hines added 7 points.
"I am not big on moral victories," Perkins said. "It was a wasted opportunity for us. I thought we outplayed them and should have won. Our guys fought back hard and put us in a position to win the game.
"We just didn't execute down the stretch."