Hoffman Estates puts the 3 to good use
Former NBA and ABA player and current college basketball analyst Len Elmore once opined about the downside of the 3-point shot, asserting that when "it's not incorporated properly and not utilized properly, it can hurt a team."
If Elmore had been in attendance at the Hoffman Estates-Schaumburg boys basketball game Monday, he would've concluded that the Hawks both incorporated and utilized it properly, putting the hurt on the host Saxons instead.
Behind an 8-for-18 performance from beyond the 3-point arc, 15th-seeded Hoffman tripled its way past 19th-seeded Schaumburg 64-50 in a Class 4A regional play-in game.
Hoffman Estates (11-17) advances to face fourth-seeded St. Viator (17-7) at 6 p.m. Wednesday in a regional semifinal.
"It was great to see our kids shoot with confidence," fifth-year Hawks coach Luke Yanule said. "I give them all the credit in the world considering how poorly we shot from there (25 percent) the last time we played them (in a 48-45 home win Jan. 29)."
In particular, the timing of those 3s that the Hawks successfully converted was key. In the second quarter, the long-range buckets allowed Hoffman Estates to take charge of the game as part of a 17-3 run that included 3 triples, a pair coming from 6-foot-2 senior guard Terry Davis (11 points) that left them on top 25-15 with 3:39 left in the first half.
Third-year varsity letterwinner Jorden Thornton's lone 3 was part of a 7-point spurt at the end of the second quarter which put the Hawks up 32-22 at the half.
After that, another Hawk guard, 6-foot senior Lamont McIntosh (13 points), took over. His three 3s extended the Hawks' lead to 43-30 as he canned his final bomb with 6:42 to play.
A 9-4 run by Schaumburg (6-23), highlighted by freshman guard Heze Trotter's steal and layup, closed the gap to 47-41 with 4:17 left when 6-6 Hoffman Estates senior Brandon Hall (12 points) made his second three of the game, which basically settled matters with 3:31 remaining.
The Hawks then closed things out at the foul line, going 12-for-17. Thornton (game-high 20 points) finished 9 for 10 at the line.
"In the postseason you don't have a choice - it's win or go home," said Thornton. "We know that we're a dangerous team who can with anyone. It's just a matter of execution and playing together as team."
Schaumburg was led in defeat by junior guard Aaron Kline with 14 points, and 6-5 senior center Kenny Travis (a Monmouth College commit) with 11.
First-year Saxons coach Wade Heisler praised his seven seniors - Travis, Eric Rushing, Samuel Smith, Toru Yagi, Anthony D'Orazio, Brandon Golliher and Jason Schoo - for their contributions.
"I thought our seniors worked hard and had tremendous leadership," Heisler said. "I'm gonna miss them. While I'm excited for our returning players they need to learn from this experience and put in the work that is required of them in the off-season for us to be able to improve."