Memory of prior loss spurs Wheaton Academy past Marmion

Back in December, Marmion beat Wheaton Academy at East Aurora's boys basketball holiday tournament.

Yes, that was pertinent to Wednesday's Class 3A Wheaton Academy regional semifinal in West Chicago.

"I think that helped us," said Wheaton Academy junior forward Marcus Bult. "We knew that we had to come out and play to beat them because the first time we didn't do that and it cost us the game. Tonight we came out with more intensity and it carried us to the win."

Squaring up from various spots like a game of "Horse," Bult made his first four shots, all 3-pointers, to give No. 3 seed Wheaton Academy an early lift that led to a 75-59 win over No. 6 Marmion. Seeking their first regional title since 2011, the Warriors host No. 2 seed Burlington Central at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

"I think him hitting those helped get us off to a good start and get the lead. I think our guys gained some confidence there," said Warriors coach Steve Thonn.

Tom Surges' beeline to the hoop off the opening tip showed Marmion (9-22) was ready. Despite Bult hitting from the top of the key, the right wing and both corners, Wheaton Academy (19-8) led only 16-13 after one quarter.

Marmion's Ryan McMahon scored inside from a nifty Surges pass 11 seconds into the second quarter, but Wheaton Academy assembled an 11-0 run capped by Tobi Sonuga's own three-point play. Although plenty of ball remained that margin basically stuck the rest of the way.

"Going into the game we knew we beat them last time but we knew they weren't going to let up, we knew they were coming back. They didn't hit their shots last time we played them how they did tonight," said Surges, who scored 15 points before injuring his right groin taking off for a contested layup at 2:19 of the third quarter. He gamely returned early in the fourth but came out for good shortly afterward.

Trailing 38-25 at halftime, Marmion's Carlos Liz and Jon Reid made a third-quarter push. The Warriors' Jack Dykema and Bult pushed right back. Capped by Gerald Blackmon's dipsy-do layup Wheaton Academy entered the fourth quarter up 59-44.

"Our defensive intensity I think was much better," said Dykema, who scored 18 points and kept the home fans cheering by converting three three-point plays. "We knew who we had to stop, we knew where to help, where not to help and I think just the intensity on defense was what propelled us into the game, and that turned into offense."

The closest Wheaton Academy allowed the Cadets from there was 13 points on three separate occasions. Playing without injured starting center Sebastian Pares and top reserve Max Scharnowski, seven Warriors scored 5 points or more. Pares' younger brother, Christian, scored 8 with 9 rebounds and James Ryken hit two big second-quarter 3s.

"Things just didn't turn out but I can't ask for any other way to end our season," said Marmion's Reid, whose 17 points led the Cadets. Liz scored 12.

"You spend so much time with them that at this point you aren't even so much thinking about the game plan," said Marmion coach Antonio Young. "It's more so about these seniors, it being their last night, being the last time they're in that locker room with the guys. You kind of want to enjoy, reminisce and just kind of push these dudes off the right way."