While it lasted, it was pure magic for St. Viator
Time finally ran out on a group which gave so many people one of the best times of their lives.
And there were plenty of times Tuesday night were it looked as if the joy ride for St. Viator's boys basketball program would continue all the way to Peoria.
One where the bandwagon grew and students, parents and alums conservatively made up 80 percent of the full house at Hoffman Estates High School for the Lions' first trip to a supersectional against a Marshall team with three titles among its nine state trophies.
When Alan Aboona hit 4 free throws and a 3-pointer in span of just 23 seconds, Viator was within a point in the fourth quarter and the earsplitting roar could be heard all the way in Peoria.
Even with less than three minutes left, downstate reservations for the weekend still seemed possible with a manageable 3-point deficit.
But Marshall ended the Lions' magical history tour by pulling away to a 63-51 victory.
"We set records and we'll go down in history as one of the greatest teams at St. Viator," said three-year varsity starter and senior Richard McLoughlin. "That's a special thing."
But Aboona could only think about how close a team that won a school-record 24 games, a third regional title and first sectional crown was to a shot at the biggest and best accomplishments of all.
"This loss still hurts, though," Aboona said after he closed out his stellar three-year varsity career with 24 points. "I really can't grasp the history part of it yet. The fact we were right there hurts even more."
But Viator coach Joe Majkowski was able to grasp what was accomplished even in a losing battle to control his emotions. Especially since this became a team that was a joy to watch for how it played hard and smart and without fear.
That's why this meant so much to Majkowski, who loves a place where he has spent all but one year of his professional career in education and coaching.
"What they've done to get the community behind them these past two weeks is just incredible," Majkowski said. "I'm just really proud of them."
Pride which was on display despite adversity from a rocky start. The Lions had to fight through Aboona, their leader and point guard, sitting for more than seven minutes of the second half with four fouls.
They battled through losing inside players Jack Etchingham and Chris Myjak to fouls against a Marshall team with 6-foot-5 jumping jacks Vince Garrett and Alfonso McKinnie.
"Everything we've been through this season kind of prepared us for this game," McLoughlin said. "Unfortunately we weren't able to come away with the victory."
They were fortunate to captivate a school with an infusion of March Madness it had never experienced.
After Monday's practice, senior Brendan King clicked off the names of some of the main players of Viator's 2001 regional champion. Down the road, some future Viator player is likely to recall the core group of Aboona, McLoughlin, King, Etchingham, Myjak, Richard Markovits and Julian Sipiora and what they accomplished.
"Right now it's a huge letdown but coach told us all good things come to an end," King said. "In a couple of weeks we'll look back at this season and the history we made with the school - and smile instead of where we're at right now."
mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com