Big finish lifts St. Viator past Lake Zurich

St. Viator's boys basketball team punched its ticket to the Class 4A Barrington sectional with a thrilling 48-42 victory over Lake Zurich on Friday night in the Wheeling regional final.

The Lions will meet Conant, which knocked off top-seeded Barrington on Friday at Rolling Meadows, in a 7 p.m. tipoff Tuesday at Barrington.

All-area team selection Patrick McNamara keyed the fourth quarter for the 18-9 Lions with 7 of his 14 points and a key assist.

With 5:28 left in the game and St. Viator leading 35-33, Sal Cannella (8 points, 5 rebounds) put in his own missed shot for a 37-33 lead.

McNamara drove the lane with 3:02 left but was stopped by Bears defenders. McNamara spied Nick Ferrante under the basket and passed him the ball on a second assist. Ferrante made the basket and was fouled. After completing the 3-point play, the Lions had more breathing room with 3:02 left and a 40-33 lead.

"I think it was the biggest play of the game," said McNamara. "It was huge. I knew their eyes were focused on me when I began my drive. I saw Nick, he made the basket and got the one. Even when they made that last run, we stayed together. Now we're going to the sectional for the fourth straight year. We haven't won it. There's unfinished business to do."

Mike Travlos, who scored 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter, connected on his fourth 3 to make the score 44-40. Will McClaughry (10 points, 6 rebounds) scored on an assist from Travlos following a St. Viator turnover which pulled Lake Zuirch (23-9) within 44-42 with :30 left.

Ferrante hit 2 free throws, and after Lake Zurich turned the ball over with :15 left, Cannella hit two more free throws with :14 left.

"Those were big free throws by Sal and all of us," said McNamara. "We hit our last six in a row and 8 of 11 for the game."

"I told the players all year that you win with seniors - you need to play good defense and hit free throws," said St. Viator coach Quin Hayes.

"All of that came true. Kevin Monson in the first half and Pat McNamara in the second half. They played unbelievable for us. Our defense was just terrific. But hats off to Lake Zurich - they are a great team."

"We felt that it might come down to a one-possession game," said Monson. "Our defense just did a great job all night. Everyone stepped up and made big plays when they had to be made."

Monson scored all 10 of his points in the first half, hitting for a 3 that gave the fifth-seeded Lions a 13-11 lead. Danny Walsh followed with a 3 of his own and then Monson struck again to give St. Viator a 19-11 lead.

The fourth-seeded Bears rallied to pull within 19-15 by halftime.

Late in the third quarter Travlos hit a 3-pointer which was followed by a basket off of a steal by Jack O'Neill and a 28-25 Bears lead.

McNamara canned a 3 to tie the score at 28 and then assisted to Ferrante with 1:05 left in the quarter for a 30-28 Lions lead.

"There was no lack of effort from the team," said Lake Zurich coach Billy Pitcher. "All our mistakes were physical. We were called for 7 charges. They were aggressive turnovers. We shot just 1 free throw - our low for the year had been 8. We didn't work the ball inside to Will. Our first three shots were all 3-point attempts. We didn't get many offensive rebounds like we normally do. It was one and done. We just didn't shoot the ball well."

Lake Zurich ended up shooting 18 of 44 from the field and St. Viator connected on 17 of 41. The Bears did have an edge in rebounding, 22-19.