Boys basketball: Lake Forest notches another upset, this one at St. Viator’s expense
St. Viator boys basketball coach Michael O’Keeffe called Lake Forest the hottest team in the area Tuesday night.
The Scouts’ searing stretch continued against O’Keeffe’s Lions.
Lake Forest — seeded seventh in the Class 3A Deerfield sectional and with only one loss since January (to Waukegan) — edged top-seeded St. Viator 59-55 in overtime behind senior guard Dominic Mordini’s game-high 28 points and a defense that held the favorites scoreless in the final 4:40 of the third quarter.
It marked Lake Forest’s second playoff win over St. Viator in three seasons. The Scouts topped the Lions 35-15 in a regional final at North Chicago in 2024.
St. Viator scored its 15th point Tuesday in the final minute of the first quarter against first-year coach Joe Pettinger’s squad.
“I knew Joe from his years (as an assistant) at Marist,” O’Keeffe said. “Coaching in your first season at any school is tough. Lake Forest had its up and downs early, but look at that team now.
“Credit Joe and his staff for the way they played tonight.”
Lake Forest (16-16), which upset fourth-seeded Grayslake Central 49-33 in a regional final Friday night, will play for the sectional title at 7 p.m. Friday against the winner of Wednesday night’s second semifinal between second-seeded Deerfield (21-11) and third-seeded Wauconda (26-7).
St. Viator (21-12), featuring only two seniors, enjoyed its biggest lead at 36-29 at the 4:40 mark of the third quarter. Junior guard Dawson Charles opened the quarter with a 3-pointer, and the second of senior guard Isaiah McKenny’s free throws increased the lead to a seemingly comfortable 7 points.
But the Scouts clamped down defensively and tallied the final 8 points of the quarter to take a 37-36 lead.
The final quarter was taut throughout. St. Viator led 38-37. Lake Forest led 44-42. Lions guard Jacob Only (team-high 19 points) tied it at 44-all on a clutch turnaround jumper from 15 feet.
Lake Forest secured advantages of 49-45 with 40 seconds to play and 50-47 with four seconds left.
Only then extended the Lions’ season by four minutes by nailing a 3-pointer as time expired in regulation.
Charles (15 points) netted a 3 with 19 seconds left in OT, narrowing Lake Forest’s lead to 56-55.
McKenny (7 points) and Only fouled out in OT.
Mordini hit three free throws in the final 15 seconds to seal it.
“Strong, physical, quick, tough,” O’Keeffe said of Mordini.
The one word he chose to capture his team’s essence this winter was “together,” said the 2007 St. Viator graduate. “My team battled hard together for 36 minutes tonight.”
“I’m proud of them, proud of the season we had.”
Lake Forest sophomore guard Tavin Woo (10 points) scored 5 points in the first eight minutes and 4 in OT. Six-foot-six senior teammate John White scored 8 points and grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds.
“It came down to us sticking together,” Pettinger said. “The win had zero to do with X’s and O’s. We rebounded and play defense there at the end.”
And they had a young man named Mordini on their side.
“Dominic loves to attack the basket,” the coach added. “Strong — he’s so strong with the ball.”