Warren outlasts Chicago Curie in overtime
If Warren's previous two games at the Pontiac Holiday Tournament were put into movie genres, Monday would have been a comedy and Tuesday would have been a horror.
It is safe to say that Wednesday's boys basketball semifinal against Chicago Curie was a drama.
Warren reached the final of the tournament for the third time in four years with a 51-48 overtime win over the Cougars.
"It feels great," Warren coach Chuck Ramsey said. "We persevered with great defense today."
In a game that was supposed to showcase the offensive talents of superstars Brandon Paul (17 points) from Warren, and Wayne Blackshear (14 points) of Curie, it was the defensive efforts of the Blue Devil supporting cast that stood out for Warren.
"Marquise (Thomas) played great defense for us," Ramsey said. "His steal was huge."
Ramsey was referring to Thomas' steal with 50 seconds left in overtime. Warren was trailing 48-46 when Thomas picked Greg Travis at midcourt and sent Warren into transition. David Duncan was fouled and knocked down two free throws with 47.2 seconds left to tie the game at 48-48.
"I was just trying to get the five-second call, "Thomas said. "Next thing I know I just stripped him."
Blackshear then missed a contested layup and Dennis Hodges (11 points) was called for an over-the-back foul on Brandon Paul.
The future Illini calmly sank two free throws with 29.2 seconds left to give Warren the lead for good.
With his team down 2, Curie coach Michael Oliver gave the ball to super sophomore Blackshear on the block. Warren double-teamed him and Jake Anderson took an offensive foul.
After another Paul free throw, Jeremy Price (13 points) had a desperation heave at the buzzer go off the mark.
While Anderson (9 points) taking the charge was huge, his two buckets near the end of regulation were just as big.
"Coach (Ramsey) just told us to go to the hole, "Anderson said. "They had some guys in foul trouble."
While Warren forced 21 turnovers, they had 25 of their own.
"They are very fast defensively," Ramsey said. "It was very tough to take care of the ball. Both sides played tough on defense."
Warren faced its biggest deficit with 5:30 left in the third, trailing 36-27. But the Blue Devils held Curie scoreless for the next nine minutes, eventually getting the lead back with three minutes left in the fourth.