Glenbard South 56, Marmion 52

Glenbard South made its free throws when it mattered.

The Raiders' Class 3A Aurora Central Catholic boys basketball regional semifinal against Marmion was in the balance the entire fourth quarter.

The Cadets reduced the Raiders' early third-quarter double-digit lead to a single possession on many occasions, but Glenbard South found ways to wriggle free.

Will Hill, who missed all four of his first-half free-throw attempts, buried a pair with 29.1 seconds to play for breathing space.

Marmion, which outscored Glenbard South 24-0 in 3-point field goals on the night, had a chance to tie with another downtown conversion.

But Glenbard South forced a turnover, and Louis Erkins sealed his fourth-quarter excellence with more free throws as the Raiders advanced with a 56-52 victory Wednesday night in Aurora.

Glenbard South (16-10), the fifth seed of the Riverside-Brookfield sectional complex, draws fourth-seeded Aurora Central (24-4) Friday night.

Marmion bows out at 12-14.

"We wanted to keep it going for the seniors," said Erkins, who had 12 of his 14 points after the intermission, including eight in the critical fourth quarter. "We didn't want (the season) to end. We have to hit (free throws) when they count."

"(Erkins) had a huge fourth quarter for us," Glenbard South coach Wade Hardtke said.

Glenbard South had a 14-0 run bridging the second and third quarters to take a 35-25 lead, only to see the Cadets strike behind its main trio of contributors.

Sean Fichtel, Bryce Emory and Tyler Smith scored all but seven of the Cadets' points; Marmion countered its six-minute scoring drought with 3-pointers from Emory and Smith to close the gap to 40-35 entering the fourth quarter.

"It was tough to get points elsewhere," Marmion coach Rashon Burno said.

When Smith hit his third 3-pointer of the game early in the fourth, the Raiders' lead was reduced to 42-40.

Reserve Luke Kolquist hit another 3-pointer for Marmion moments later, and the club had three opportunities to tie or take the lead.

But Glenbard South dodged all the Cadets' bullets, and Erkins' pair of slashing scores extended the cushion back to 50-45 with 1:14 remaining.

Back came Marmion, however, as a Fichtel runner and two free throws from Smith set the stage for a frenetic last half-minute.

Marmion immediately fouled Hill after Smith made it a 50-49 lead, and the senior calmly sank both foul shots to give Glenbard South a 52-49 cushion.

Fichtel led all players with 16 points; Andy Manson paced Glenbard South with 14 points and 7 rebounds.

"That's the nature of how our season went," Burno said. "They were the better team."