Benet’s McInerney, Glenbard East’s Bailey ready for new roles
They represented two of DuPage County’s most successful boys basketball campaigns in recent memory.
It ended in a flash last season with Benet’s stunning sectional semifinal loss to East Aurora and Glenbard East’s triumphant victory over Normal Community in the Class 4A third-place game.
Last March represented the exclamation point for two great teams. They combined for 57 wins with a pair of Division I players apiece — talent unheard of in this area.
And then it ended. For most.
Each team graduated four starters, leaving one man behind to carry on.
For Glenbard East senior Dante Bailey and Benet junior Pat McInerney, last season’s end means this season’s beginning.
“The last game we played it was like, ‘Wow, this is it,’” Bailey said. “‘It’s the last time I get to see these guys.’ It was a great feeling being side by side with those guys.”
Bailey restarted his training only a week after last season ended. This time he entered the off-season as the known leader of the Rams.
It was a similar situation with McInerney.
While Glenbard East graduated Johnny Hill, now at Illinois State, and Zach Miller, now at Northern Illinois, Benet graduated current Wisconsin player Frank Kaminsky and Northwestern’s Dave Sobolewski from a team that won its first 29 games before being knocked out in the Class 4A East Aurora sectional semifinals.
Battered from a long season, McInerney took the summer off to heal up. With 40 varsity games under his belt, including 10 as a freshman, he’s a wily veteran as a junior.
“I’m excited for the challenge,” McInerney said. “All these guys are hungry. We still have a lot of seniors and they have that sense of urgency.”
One of the biggest challenges facing Benet and Glenbard East is creating a unique identity. That doesn’t mean forgetting last season’s accomplishments, but every team must forge its own path.
It coincides with the new roles for Bailey and McInerney, who are being thrust into the position of feature players.
The 6-foot-6 Bailey averaged 10.5 points and 5 rebounds last season and had 16 points and 6 rebounds in the third-place game. The 6-5 McInerney proudly talks about doing the “dirty work” for last season’s team, but he also averaged 7.5 points while taking care of the rebounding and tough interior defense.
They’ll both need to do much more this season. It’s a challenge they anxiously await.
“I know I can do it,” Bailey said. “I’ve been waiting on this for a while. It takes heart, dedication and desire. You’ve got to have the will to win and the will to work hard. Try to beat the man in front of you.”
It’s unfair to place last season’s expectations on this season’s teams. Glenbard East certainly won’t be a failure if it doesn’t claim a state trophy, and no one will think less of Benet if it doesn’t go unbeaten in the regular season.
McInerney and Bailey, though, are prepared to carry on the winning legacy for their respective programs. Both teams plan on challenging for conference titles and beyond.
The supporting casts are unknown but solid. Among Benet’s top players is 6-9 Sean O’Mara, who is regarded among the state’s top sophomores. Glenbard East coach Scott Miller says junior forward Marvin Grant-Clark is bound to attract Division I attention.
In the end, though, success for the Rams and Redwings ultimately hinges on Bailey and McInerney. Last season’s role players are this season’s focal points.
“My role this year is obviously going to change a little bit,” McInerney said. “I’ll have to do more playmaking in addition to the things I was doing last year.”
One thing you know McInerney and Bailey will bring to the table is fierce competitiveness. You don’t go through something like last season without it.
Their experiences will be invaluable.
“I think we’re going to surprise some people,” McInerney said. “We’ll never go into a game thinking we’re not going to win.”
kschmit@dailyherald.com