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Rockford East ends South Elgin's best season

ROCKFORD - A 15-second sequence changed the complexion of the Rock Valley College sectional title game and helped propel top seed Rockford East to a 64-54 victory over South Elgin Friday.

No. 3 South Elgin led 21-18 after a quarter, thanks to a great start by 6-foot-7 forward Vince Miszkiewicz.

The senior scored 10 first-quarter points on 5-of-8 shooting, including three thunderous dunks, and he had the Storm brimming with confidence.

However, Miszkiewicz picked up his second foul chasing a loose ball with 5:36 left in half and the E-Rabs went right at him on the ensuing possession.

"My coach pulled me aside and said to attack him," said Rockford East senior guard Chris Burnell, who drove the lane against the South Elgin big man. "He said give him his third so we can get him out of the game."

Miszkiewicz was whistled for his third foul with 5:21 to play and forced to take a seat.

"I just went straight up and he went into me," he said. "I did my best not to foul him, but I just had to deal with it."

With South Elgin's catalyst on the bench, Rockford East went on a 14-5 run over the next three minutes. Junior guard Sincere Parker scored 8 points to fuel that push via an alley-oop dunk and a pair of 3-pointers.

Sensing the game slipping away, South Elgin coach Brett Johnson put Miszkiewicz back in the game on offense with two minutes left and subbed him out on defense when possible. That stabilized the Storm. They finished the half on a 7-2 run and remained within 38-32 at halftime.

South Elgin drew within 40-36 on a pair of Miszkiewicz baskets midway through the third quarter, but Rockford East closed the period with an 8-0 run, sparked by a Markarious Luster 3-pointer.

Six-foot-six senior Sha'den Clanton capped that spree with an inside bucket against Miszkiewicz for a 48-36 lead.

South Elgin (25-9) made a fourth-quarter push. Senior guard Jace Warrick sank a 3-pointer. Then senior guard Drake Montgomery caught fire, sinking three straight 3-pointers. His triple from NBA range drew the Storm within 57-54 with 2:29 left. Montgomery scored 10 of his team-high 20 points in the fourth quarter.

"The energy came to me," he said. "I felt the vibe much better."

However, the E-Rabs counterattacked after Montgomery made it a 3-point game. They broke the press for a left-handed dunk by Clanton against Miszkiewicz, who picked up his fourth foul in the process with 2:22 left.

Trailing 60-54, Montgomery misfired on his next 3-point attempt. The Storm got the ball back after a Rockford East missed shot, but Montgomery was called for traveling while attempting to find room for a 3-point try.

The E-Rabs finished the game off at the free-throw line. Burnell led the way with 16 points, Clanton finished with 14 points and Parker added 13.

Rockford East (33-2) advances to face Geneva (33-1) at the Northern Illinois supersectional on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

"They threw everything at us and we battled and we played as hard as we could," Johnson said. "That's all you can ask of a team at this point in the season. Rockford East is a great team. They just got it from us but we played really hard. I'm proud of my boys for the effort."

The loss ended the best season in South Elgin history. The Storm won a school record 25 games and tied the 2014 squad for the deepest postseason run in school history.

"I love my guys." Montgomery said. "This was the best team I've ever been a part of. It was a brotherhood from the start. We did some good things. We're the best team in South Elgin history and we set some records for our school. Even though it didn't end how we wanted, there are a lot of things we can look back on that are positive."

Miszkiewicz, who never fouled out, finished with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks.

"It was a great run," he said. "I'm sorry we couldn't get the win, but, man, setting the record for most wins in school history and beating some of the top teams in the state and making it here is pretty special.

"The brotherhood has been there since day one, since the first morning practice and I've seen it grow every single day. It's sad that it's over, but we're brothers for life."

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