Glenbard East could never be counted out
PEORIA -- Game over.
That had to be the majority opinion among the folks attending Friday's Class 4A state semifinal boys basketball game between Glenbard East and Simeon.
The Wolverines (29-2) raced to a seemingly insurmountable 15-0 lead before Glenbard East (27-4) barely had a chance to blink. Four minutes into the game, the game seemed over.
Not by a long shot. Glenbard East fell 56-53 to the defending state champion Wolverines, but even the doubters inside Carver Arena had to be impressed by the Rams' never-say-die mentality.
"I thought we had them buried," admitted Simeon coach Robert Smith.
Glenbard East obviously had other thoughts.
"You heard it on their bench, their coach was yelling it out," said Rams senior Johnny Hill. "It was over, their players were saying it was over. That just gave us fuel. Fuel to our fire."
They may not have looked like it early, but this was still the same Rams team that tore through the DuPage Valley Conference and the Glenbard East regional before claiming their first sectional title in 47 years with upset wins over Downers Grove South and East Aurora.
The same Rams team that reached the state semifinals for the first time in program history with Tuesday's supersectional win over Rockford Auburn.
"We were definitely the underdogs," Hill said. "Teams didn't even pick us to come out of our sectional. I think that's a tribute to our guys, how hard they played. It's just a matter of we're never going to give up. We've always got the desire to win."
Give up? Turns out the Rams almost beat Simeon.
The Wolverines had ideas of breezing into the title game but ultimately had to shrug off a pair of fourth-quarter deficits to pull out a win that was much tougher to earn than expected.
"It gave us a sense of urgency," said standout Simeon sophomore Jabari Parker. "We came out not being complacent anymore. We came out playing more tough. That woke us up, saying that that team can play with us."
The Rams' barrage of 12 3-pointers epitomized their growing confidence as the game wore on. If not for the trio of 3s at the end of the first quarter that slashed the 15-0 deficit to 15-9, including a pair by Kevin Priebe, Glenbard East probably would have faced an uphill battle just to stay competitive.
"Taking their first hit, being down 15-0," said Glenbard East coach Scott Miller. "To think that we outscored them by 12 points the rest of the way is amazing."
Amazing, though, is what Glenbard East has done best this postseason.
Like the sectional final against East Aurora, six players knocked down 3-pointers for the Rams as they broke a 4A state tournament record for 3s in a game. Point guard Zach Miller's perimeter shot was off, but his 10 assists proved invaluable in setting that record.
Miller finally made his first shot on a 3-pointer with 18 seconds left to help Glenbard East stay within reach at 51-48.
On the ensuing possession Rams junior Pat Walsh dove for a loose ball, slid off the court and slammed hard into the first row of seats. After laying on the floor cringing in pain for a few minutes, Walsh quickly recovered and returned to the game moments later.
With only seconds left and hope dimming fast, Walsh and the Rams still didn't quit.
It was the only time the Rams laid down the entire game. And they got right back up.
"It was just a great experience, this is what we've all dreamed of," Zach Miller said. "It was cool to be out there. Hopefully, we can come back and win that third-place trophy."
kschmit@dailyherald.com