Saints' comeback stuns Waubonsie Valley
After being held to just 22 points for the first 25-plus minutes, St. Charles East tallied 17 points over the final 6:39 of regulation and outscored Waubonsie Valley 9-7 in overtime to pull out a 48-46 Upstate Eight Conference victory Friday night in Aurora.
"We just found a way to make more plays at the end," said Saints coach Brian Clodi. "It's just a huge win - to come in here on their home floor and find a way after being 10 (points) down that late."
St. Charles East (9-17, 4-6) trailed 34-24 with 6:14 remaining before senior reserves Matt Jurewicz and Phil Kohlhagen provided some much-needed offense.
Early in the fourth quarter the Saints' bench had been outscored 18-0. But that changed down the stretch. Jurewicz buried a pair of 3-pointers and Kohlhagen added a three-point play and 2 free throws to give the visitors a 39-36 lead with 35 seconds left.
"Matt Jurewicz came off the bench and sparked us, hitting those two 3-pointers and making plays," Clodi said. "Kevin (Senechalle) made free throws down the stretch and Phil was 4 of 5 at the line."
Jurewicz and Kohlhagen combined for 11 of the Saints' last 13 points in regulation.
"I've struggled the last seven or eight games," Jurewicz said. "I was just able to take some shots tonight and knock them down. Once you make one, it was like the world was lifted off my shoulders.
"Coming off the bench, you need to provide that spark and energy. Phil and I - I thought really got that done and we were able to get a win."
The win didn't come in regulation, however, as Western Illinois-bound Jelani Johnson drained a cold-blooded 3-pointer with 23 seconds left to force overtime with the game tied at 39. He led the Warriors with 16 points.
In the four-minute extra session Tim Russell's layup with 1:34 remaining put the Saints on top to stay, 45-43. Waubonsie's desperation 3-pointer rimmed out at the buzzer, putting the finishing touch on a disappointing senior night for the Warriors (13-13, 5-5), who committed 9 turnovers during the game's final 12 minutes.
"It was our senior night and they played harder and wanted it more than we did," said Warriors coach Steve Weemer. "We turned the ball over seven times in the fourth quarter. We didn't hold our composure like we're supposed to do.
"To be up 10 (in the fourth quarter) and flat out just fold was disheartening."
Senechalle, who was plagued by foul problems for the first 3 quarters, scored 11 of his game-high 20 points in the fourth quarter and overtime period.
"My worst fear is fouling out," said the 6-7 senior center, who added 13 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. "I wasn't playing smart basketball, but I was able to not foul and thankfully we won it in overtime."
Both teams begin Class 4A regional tournament action Monday, with St. Charles East facing Larkin in DeKalb while Waubonsie Valley takes on Wheaton North at East Aurora.