Latest news with #PontiacSupersectional
Chicago Tribune
11-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Max Justic goes to work as Brother Rice wins supersectional, earns first state trophy. ‘Fun to do the little things.'
PONTIAC — It's easy to overlook senior guard Max Justic as the quiet fifth starter for Brother Rice. Justic, though, is a steady contributor who always embraces his job. Well, several different jobs, that is. 'It's fun to get on loose balls,' Justic said. 'It's fun to do the little things. You can do something different every game. There's a new role every night. You're not just stuck to one, so it's fun.' Justic's efforts went a long way toward Brother Rice making history Monday night. He played his usual tough defense and came through with six big points in the third quarter as the Crusaders rolled to a 60-41 win over Peoria in the Class 3A Pontiac Supersectional. Citadel recruit Marcos Gonzales scored 20 points and Jack Weigus finished with 19 points and six rebounds to lead Brother Rice (30-6), which clinched the first state trophy in program history. KJ Morris added six points for the Crusaders, who will take on St. Patrick (28-7) at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in a state semifinal at the State Farm Center in Champaign. Orlando Edwards Jr. scored eight points and Miami of Ohio recruit Leshawn Stowers finished with seven points for Peoria (29-7). Brother Rice has been to state just one other time in basketball, losing in a Class AA quarterfinal in 2004-05. 'It's insane,' Justic said. 'We're creating history. It's never been done before and that's just so special. Our school's rallied behind us so well, so it's awesome.' Justic got fouled on a 3-point attempt early in the third quarter and knocked down all three free throws. He then buried a three, helping the Crusaders stretch their lead to a comfortable 43-25. 'It was awesome,' Justic said. 'My offense has been a little bit off lately, so it was great to contribute on both ends of the floor (Monday). My teammates trusted me to take those shots, and I always keep faith in myself because of them.' Weigus pointed out that the Crusaders have always kept their confidence in Justic. 'Max has brought everything to this team,' Weigus said. 'He's one of the best on-ball defenders I know. He's so gritty. He'll hit the big shots. He's great from the free-throw line. 'He's just going to battle and give it his best. He's one of the most competitive people I know. He's a great teammate, as well.' Brother Rice held Peoria without a field goal in the first quarter, taking a 10-2 lead. And the Crusaders' defense carried them to state. Morris was a big part of that as he drew the tough assignment of guarding Stowers, long considered one of the top seniors in the state. Stowers scored just seven points, and five came with Morris on the bench. Stowers was shut out in the second half. 'He definitely seemed frustrated,' Morris said. 'It's a great feeling. I'm taking their best player out of the game and I love that. I'm always excited to match up with a guy like that. 'We watch film, we get the scouting report and we just have to execute it.' Now, the Crusaders are two wins from a state title. It's a dream Weigus knew could become reality when he first played with Brother Rice over the summer after transferring from Hinsdale South. 'It's not cliche, it's just what we are,' Weigus said. 'We're a super tight, together group. We're best friends on and off the court. I've said sometimes that we're playing with the power of friendship.' And Justic is thrilled to be an integral part of that group. He was on the varsity team last season but played scarcely. He finally got his opportunity as a senior, earning a starting spot. 'I worked so hard in the offseason to find myself in this role, so it just means everything,' Justic said. 'It's just such a blessing. Through all my years of basketball, this was always what I wanted.'
Chicago Tribune
11-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Listen up, mister. Junior guard point Noah Mister and Mount Carmel will be back next season. ‘How can you go wrong?'
As far as junior point guard Noah Mister is concerned, Mount Carmel's quest for a trip to the state finals in 2025-26 starts now. And redemption will be a big part of the focus. Last season as a sophomore, Mister enjoyed the ride of making it to the Class 3A state championship game, with the Caravan finishing in second place. But mere minutes after Monday night's supersectional, Mister was already laying down the law. 'It's not going to happen again,' he said. 'We have work to do, but it's not going to happen again.' Despite Mister's best effort, the Caravan dropped a 49-48 decision to St. Patrick in the Class 3A Illinois-Chicago Supersectional at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago. The 6-foot-2 Mister led Mount Carmel (29-6) with 22 points, including a pair of 3-pointers in the final eight seconds that closed the gap to the final score. He also had a game-high four assists. Cameron Thomas came through with 12 points and seven rebounds for the Caravan, while Keith Jenkins added seven points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots. Afterward, Mister stayed around to watch the following Class 4A supersectional game between Kenwood and Rich Township. Even though he transferred from Kenwood to Mount Carmel after his freshman year, Mister was happy for the Broncos. 'They are my guys,' Mister said. 'I don't have any bad feelings toward them. I'm not a hater.' St. Patrick (28-7), which will be making its first trip to state under longtime coach Mike Bailey, was led Monday by RJ McPartlin with 12 points and eight rebounds. Anthony Favia added 10 points. The Shamrocks will play at 6:30 p.m. Thursday against Brother Rice (30-6) at the State Farm Center in Champaign. The Crusaders rolled past Peoria 60-41 at the Pontiac Supersectional. Mister, however, had earned the respect of St. Patrick's players. EJ Breland said his family and Mister's family are close and they grew up playing together. 'I know him pretty well, and he's always been a great player,' Breland said of Mister. 'He can make a lot of tough shots.' Nevaeh Hawkins agreed with Breland in his assessment of Mister. 'From my perspective, he's a great basketball player,' Hawkins said. 'For him to take those shots and make them — he has nothing to hang his head about. He was definitely a problem for us.' Mister said the difference between winning and losing Monday was the 'small mistakes' that Mount Carmel made. He took some blame for that, pointing to five turnovers, several for traveling. 'Man, I didn't think some of them were, but those were the calls and you have to keep playing,' Mister said. A year ago, Mount Carmel needed overtime in the supersectional to beat St. Patrick 56-46. Mister finished eight points and seven assists in that game. Even though Thomas, Air Force recruit Grant Best, Jenkins and other talented seniors will be graduating, Mister can't wait to see the development of the Caravan's younger players, including Claude Mpouma and Marshaun Thornton. Mount Carmel coach Phil Segroves acknowledged that he will need time to digest this loss and see what areas can be improved. Still, he has an optimistic view of the future and appreciates this season's team, even though the Caravan came up one game short of reaching to state. 'If you were in our locker room, you would have seen emotion,' Segroves said. 'There were a lot of 'I love yous' and 'I'm going to miss yous.' It shows we're doing things the right way. 'As proud as I was of last year's team, I'm just as proud of this year's team. And how can you go wrong next year with Noah Mister leading the team?'
Chicago Tribune
08-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Marcos Gonzales learns from past as Brother Rice takes down Lemont for sectional title. ‘I can keep my promises.'
With school not being in session Friday, Brother Rice's Marcos Gonzales used part of his free day to relax in bed and study some game film on his phone. He watched the Crusaders lose to Kenwood in the 2023 sectional final and then watched the Crusaders lose to Thornton in the 2024 sectional final. The endings never changed. But it fired him up for his third chance. 'I saw myself both times in the closing seconds watching the other teams celebrate,' Gonzales said. 'I didn't want that to be us again. I watched those games for fuel, that's for sure.' He added fuel to the fire by scoring 11 points in the first quarter for the host Crusaders in a 53-41 victory over Lemont in the Class 3A Brother Rice Sectional championship game in Chicago. Gonzales, a 6-foot-4 senior guard/forward, totaled 20 points, six rebounds and three steals as Brother Rice (29-6) won the fifth sectional title in program history and first since 2005. Jack Weigus scored nine of his 18 points in the third quarter and Caden Workman added nine points for the Crusaders, who play Peoria (29-6) at 7 p.m. Monday in the Pontiac Supersectional. Gabriel Sularski led Lemont (26-8) with 16 points and Shea Glotzbach added 11. The last time the Crusaders played in a supersectional, Pat Richardson was the coach, Bobby Frasor was the star and none of the players on this season's team were even born. Frasor is also a former Brother Rice coach who replaced Richardson. 'Coach Frasor is the one who originally recruited me here and his team won it back in the day,' Gonzales said. 'He texted me during the week to wish me luck and wish me the best. 'Everybody was wishing me the best this week, and I tried to do everything for everybody.' Weigus, who also had five rebounds, noticed that right away during Friday's game. 'You can tell that, when he gets going, no one can stop him,' Weigus said of Gonzales. 'He is the (Catholic League's) player of the year for a reason. And he got the job done.' The Citadel-bound Gonzales knows how good his team can be, even though the Crusaders have a few losses this season they would like back. 'There's always going to be a little adversity,' he said. 'We've taken the punches, but we're a resilient team. We had some tough stretches, but we're playing our best. 'That's the way we want to play right now.' Weigus, a Hinsdale South transfer, also got the job done. He scored the game's first basket three seconds in and opened the second half for the Crusaders with a 3-pointer. 'He's not only a great addition to the basketball team, he's a great addition to the school and he's a great student,' Brother Rice coach Conte Stamas said of Weigus. 'The transition was seamless. 'He fit in here really well.' Weigus, who hasn't been at the school even a year, celebrated the huge achievement afterward. 'Making history is cool, especially breaking a 20-year streak like this,' he said. 'We worked our tails off from June until now, and it's such and honor to play with these guys. 'I'm just so happy and proud.' Stamas was also happy with Gonzales' explosive 17-point effort in the first half. 'He was on a roll taking it to the basket,' Stamas said. 'I had to give him a little break because he was exhausted with how hard he was going. 'This is this third sectional final, and I said, 'We're getting this done, Marcos.''' It was similar to a conversation the two had in 2024 after the loss to Thornton. 'I made a promise to coach after that Thornton game that we are going to the sectional final but get even further,' Gonzales said. 'I'm glad I can keep my promises to my people.' Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. Originally Published: March 7, 2025 at 11:26 PM CST
