Saxons battle past Manual
PONTIAC - Cully Payne was mystified. The Schaumburg senior standout could not find his range with the jumper, and he was equally beguiled for missing the front end of 2 bonus free throws.
"I was struggling from the outside," Payne said.
But he revived in time to lead Schaumburg to a thrilling 78-75 victory over reigning Class 2A state runner-up Peoria Manual in the quarterfinals of the Pontiac Holiday Tournament Tuesday night.
On a day of action filled with games frequently decided on the final possession, the clash between Schaumburg and the only program to ever win four consecutive state basketball titles added to the rich legacy.
"It's a total class operation from top to bottom," Schaumburg coach Bob Williams said of the oldest holiday tournament in the nation. "It's just a great tournament."
In a game featuring 17 ties and 14 lead changes, Schaumburg finally secured the victory when the Rams' C. J. March missed a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Schaumburg (12-0) is the last standing undefeated large school in the state, and will face Plainfield North (12-1), which stunned previously unbeaten and top-seeded Waukegan 62-61 on a 3-point play as time expired, in the second semifinal at 2:30 p.m. today on Comcast SportsNet.
Payne was only to score on driving layups during the opening three quarters, and the see-saw nature of the game appeared to shift in favor of Manual (9-4) when it had a 7-0 run late in the third quarter to open a 55-48 lead. The Saxons' Perrish Bell scored at the third-quarter buzzer off a theft, however, to bring them within 55-51.
That is when Payne took command.
"I knew I was going to have to score in the fourth quarter in order for us to win," Payne said.
Payne sliced and diced the Rams' paint defense, slashing for several scores or converting free throws. Payne had a 3-point play to forge the first of four consecutive ties between 59 and 65.
The Alabama recruit then countered a March 3-point play with consecutive field goals to give Schaumburg the lead for good at 71-68.
The teams traded free throws the remainder of the game, and Payne added the last of his game-high 21 points with 2 at the line with 8.6 seconds to play.
"(Manual) played great 'D' on me," Payne said. "I was going to do whatever I had to help the team." Payne had 8 assists on the night; Bell and Josh Spandiary were the main beneficiaries, scoring 18 and 17 points, respectively.
"Our kids are just incredible competitors," Williams said. "Spandiary stepped up huge for us."
"It was a great night of basketball," Manual coach Derrick Booth said. "Cully Payne is just a great player. He set up his teammates so well."
Paris Gulley led four Manual double-digit scorers with 19 points.
At Pekin
Hersey (5-7) lost 61-53 to Freeport in the afternoon and 71-53 to Bartonville Limestone in the evening and will play Mt. Carmel for seventh place at 11 a.m. today in the 44th annual Pekin Holiday Tournament.
Hersey led its opener 39-35 late in the third quarter when Freeport went on a 14-1 run. The Huskies responded with a 7-0 run to get within 49-47 but they got no closer.
Demitriy Velikov had 20 points, was 4-for-5 on 3-pointers and had 6 rebounds as the Huskies were out-rebounded 29-18. Kyle Mengarelli added 13 points and three 3s.
Kyle Miklasz had 17 points and four 3s and Velikov added 12 points for Hersey against Limestone.
At Lemont
Anthony Cushion (17 points, 5-for-10 on 3s) and Alex Regalado (16 points, 12 rebounds) led Leyden (5-6) as it surpassed its win total of last year by beating Walther Lutheran 50-48 to finish seventh in the Lemont Christmas Classic.