DePaul Prep surprises St. Charles East

Justin Hardy almost played a flawless game for St. Charles East in its debut at the inaugural Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic on Saturday afternoon.

But Hardy could not completely rescue the Saints in their boys basketball game against DePaul Prep in Hinsdale.

Evan DiLeonardi sent the game into overtime scoring in the final minute for St. Charles East. But the school formerly known as Gordon Tech survived a DeLeonardi 3-pointer at the buzzer to earn a 50-47 verdict.

“Very frustrating,” St. Charles East coach Pat Woods said.

Hardy missed but a shot each from the field and at the free-throw line in scoring a game-high 24 points. The sophomore ended the first half with a 3-point play, 3-pointer and driving score to stake the Saints to a 26-20 lead.

“(Woods) drew up a lot of good plays for me,” Hardy said. “Every time it would work to perfection.”

Hardy extended his personal run to 10 points to open the third quarter, and he would score from the paint moments later but it would be the Saints' final points of the quarter.

In fact, Zach Robinson hit a 3-pointer for St. Charles East (7-3) three minutes into the second quarter. No player other than Hardy scored for the next 13 minutes until DiLeonardi hit a midrange jumper to open the fourth.

“I think it was a lack of communication,” Hardy said. “We couldn't find the bottom of the net.”

One sequence was particularly difficult for Woods to stomach as the Saints missed 4 free throws on the same possession while enjoying their largest lead of the game.

“We were up eight (28-20),” Woods said. “Then they come down and get an ‘and-one.' That's a momentum-shifter right there.”

The Rams (5-6) enjoyed advantages of 6 more rebounds (40-34), more shot attempts (55-39) and 8 fewer turnovers.

“We did not rebound very well,” Woods said. “We need to rebound to get our offense into its flow.”

Hardy time and again tried to will his team to the win. The sophomore hit big-time 3-pointers both late in regulation and the extra session to make it a one-possession game.

“I just found an open spot on the floor,” Hardy said. “Three wasn't enough there (in overtime).”

Omar Perocevic had impeccable timing in scoring his only field goal.

The Rams' senior hit a baseline-left 3-pointer to break the overtime deadlock and give DePaul Prep the lead for good.

“(Teammate) Toni Sudamac set me a screen, and I was running the baseline,” Perocevic said. “I was wide open.”

J.T. Ford hit three 3-pointers to finish with 9 points, and DiLeonardi finished with seven.

Craig Atkins' 22 points paced DePaul.