Rogers, Lake Park win St. Viator title
In one of the most thrilling championship games in the 36-year history of St. Viator's Blenner Holiday Classic, it was only fitting the outcome was settled in overtime.
After Lake Park's Darrione Rogers gave Zion-Benton fits all night with her 42 points in regulation and 4 more in OT, it was senior Casey Darre's 3-pointer that gave the Lancers a commanding 72-68 lead with 1:03 left in OT.
The Zee-Bees never recovered and the Lancers, playing in the tourney for the first time, put away a 74-68 triumph.
Rogers' 46 points were 3 below her personal-high 49 set against Hinsdale South earlier this season.
But her 10 3-pointers were a school record breaking the former mark of 9 by Sam Arnold, now an assistant coach at York.
"I was honestly just zoned in," said Rogers, who was rattling them in from 22 feet. "These are the kind of games that you play for."
Darre also had the two free throws with 55 seconds left in regulation that tied the game at 66-66, the way it stood going into OT.
"That 3-pointer by Casey was the knockout blow," said Lake Park coach Brian Rupp. "Plus she hit those two free throws to tie it in the last minute of regulation and she took two big charges. That's what she does. She is by far our toughest player."
Darre and Rogers were named to the all-tourney team as the Lancers went 4-0 in the tourney and stand at 13-2 for the season.
Rogers' amazing night included 10-of-20 shooting from 3-point range, 10 of 16 free throws and 13 of 32 from the floor. She also had 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.
Yet the junior headed to DePaul credited defense for the win.
"Our defense in overtime was probably the key," she said. "What I'll remember most is how we finished the game as a team. In that OT everyone did something to help out, whether it was a big rebound, taking a charge or things like that. This is what you play for and this really builds our confidence."
Darre's clutch 3-pointer came after a free throw by Emma Thorne put the Lancers ahead 69-68 with 2:19 left in OT.
"I knew had an open shot," Darre said. "I knew I wanted to take it and I was confident. Our coach is like, 'As long as it's an open shot, and not forced, take it.'"
Zion-Benton (12-3) took a 66-60 lead with 3:35 left in regulation but Rogers' 10th 3-pointer ignited the 6-0 tying run.
"We know she can hit them," Rupp said. "She practices them a lot. It's not like she is just chucking them up there.
"And she was laboring at the start of the fourth quarter. She was cramping up real good and we called time out just to get her rest. She said straight up she wasn't coming out of the game. She is a special player."
Junior Jayda Mills was a special player for Zion-Benton (12-3), striking for personal-high 23 points, including 6 in the first three minutes.
"Jayda had a really good game," said Zion-Benton hall of fame coach Tanya Johnson. "She kept us in the game.
"That No. 14 (Mills) played unbelievably," Rupp said. "She couldn't miss anything. We wanted to bunch up the middle, but she stepped up and kept them in the game.
"But we weathered the storm. That's what I feel this team does the best."
Rupp played seven girls. Kate Kirkham hit a big 3-pointer in the third quarter. Brayana Walker, Carly Vehrs and Kelli Moy all provided key contributions.
The Zee-Bees were without their best defender, junior Trinity Walker (family obligation), a point guard who provides floor energy.
"It's disheartening because I think our kids battled an and played really hard," Johnson said. "But we were in foul trouble and had two starters on the bench for a lot of time.
"Good players like (Rogers) rise to the challenge. We had an opportunity to win the game (last possession in regulation) but we didn't take advantage. We've got to step up to those challenges. Lake Park deserves to win the championship. They were the best team."