I've said for years that Top 4 seeds should be hosting regionals. This game was a litmus test of that theory. I predicted Curie would win this game because it is tough to beat them on their home court. This is no fault of Curie as they still had to go out and win the game. I do hope in the future the IHSA revisits and changes to Top 4 seeds hosting regionals. Onto the game:
Curie (Chicago) 62 Hinsdale Central 57:
First quarter:
Junior point guard Justin Oliver of Curie came out on fire. He's one of the most underrated point guards in the Chicago Public League as well as the state. He had 8 of Curie's 10 points in the quarter to keep them close. Hinsdale Central was running their offense and getting open looks. Senior Dillon Orozco in his last high school game had 5 points in the quarter on 2 of 3 shooting. Hinsdale Central led 13-10 at the end of the first quarter.
Second quarter:
Hinsdale Central came out firing and took a 26-18 lead early in the quarter. Timeout Curie. This was Hinsdale's chance to to get real separation and get to a double digit lead. Curie though would not go away and cut deficit to 30-28 by halftime. South Daokota commit senior star Vincas Buzelis committed his third foul with about 2 minutes left in the half. Orozco had 5 points in the quarter for Hinsdale Central. Justin Oliver had 5 points in the quarter, while senior Brad Johnson Jr came alive and helped Curie stay in contact by getting to the foul line. He was 4 for 4 from the line in the quarter.
Third quarter:
Hinsdale Central got as much as a six point lead but never could get a big working margin vs Curie though senior Eric Kozys got hot and scored 9 of his 15 points in the quarter, Orozco had 7 points. Curie conuntered with Justin Oliver once again attacking the basket and getting two three point plays the old fashioned way. He had 8 points in the quarter. Hinsdale Central led 47-42 at the end of the third quarter.
Fourth quarter:
Junior Michael Oliver Jr came alive with his shooting, He was 0 for 3 from three the first three quarters. He came out and hit two threes in a row to give Curie a 48-47 lead. Timeout Hinsdale Central. Game was nip and tuck after that. Key call of the game happened with 1:30 left. Curie was up 1 and Buzelis, with 4 fouls, drove to the basket. He had just hit a pull-up jumper the previous possesion for a 1 point Hinsdale Central lead. He drove to the basket, a Curie player stepped in his path. I initially thought it was a block. Ball went in the basket, but didn't count as he was called for the offensive foul. It was his 5th foul and he was disquaified. Curie then hit 7 of 8 free throws down the stretch (3 from Michael Oliver jJr and 4 from Justin Oliver) to salt the game away and pull the upset.
Note: Curie was the visitor on the scoreboard as the lower seed.
Top performers:
Curie (Chicago):
Junior Justin Oliver was just ridiculous in this game. 27 points 6 assists 1 steal
Senior Brad Johnson Jr 10 points 10 rebounds 1 block
Junior Michael Oliver Jr 9 points (2/6 3PT)
Hinsdale Central:
Senior Dillon Orozco 17 points
Senior Eric Kozys 15 points 4 rebounds 1 block
Senior Vincas Buzelis 12 points 1 steal
Curie (Chicago) advances to IHSA Class 4A Hinsdale Central Sectional Semifinal vs Whitney Young (Chicago) on Wednesday with a 23-9 record
Hinsdale Central ends one of the best seasons in their school history with a 29-4 record
Milestones:
Chris Kirkpatrick of New Trier (Winnekta) scored his 1000th point this week. Had 29 points tonight. (junior)
Colby Smith of New Trier (Winnetka) scored his 1000th point tonight. (Wash U St Louis commit). Had 19 points tonight
Lane Tech College Prep (Chicago) wins first regional title in school history
Roshawn Russell of St Laurence (Burbank) gets his 100th coaching victory tonight
Butler College Prep (Chicago) wins first regional title in school history
Top performances:
Rylan Carton, Sherrard 45 points
Donte Montgomery Jr, Oak Lawn 42 points (8 3PT)
Zion Gross, West (Joliet) 17 points 7 rebounds
Cameron Thomas, Mount Carmel (Chicago) 26 points
Luke Smith, Addison Trail 27 points
Isaiah Cortes, Addison Trail 20 points
Sam Donald, Columbia 26 points 15 rebounds (double/double) (Bellermine commit)
Zach Mazanowski, Lane Tech College Prep (Chicago) 22 points 5 rebounds
Ashton Grieves, Metamora 16 points
Wes Gudeman, Morton (IL) 16 points
Jordan Williams, Fremd (Palatine) 20 points 6 rebounds (double/double) (junior)
Bradley Biedke, Conant (Hoffman Estates) 23 points 13 rebounds (double/double)
Phoenix Gill, St Ignatius College Prep (Chicago) 20 points
Rocco Pagliocca, Stevenson (Lincolnshire) 15 points 5 rebounds 2 steals (junior)
Freddy Hassan, Kaneland 23 points 14 rebounds (double/double)
Isaiah Gipson, Kaneland 17 points
Arnez Jones, North Lawndale College Prep (Chicago) 30 points 12 rebounds (double/double) (junior)
Tomorion Smith, North Lawndale College Prep (Chicago) 16 points
Kamrin King, Hyde Park Academy (Chicago) 14 points 10 rebounds (double/double)
Jacobi Walls, Hyde Park Academy (Chicago) 6 points 10 rebounds 4 blocks
Matthew Harland, Christ The King College Prep (Chicago) 18 points 10 rebounds (double/double) 3 blocks
Darien Green, Christ The King College Prep (Chicago) 18 points 6 rebounds 7 assists 5 steals
Aaron McClure, Christ The King College Prep (Chicago) 7 points 13 rebounds
Braden Freeman, Moline 20 points (Cal Poly commit)
Trey Taylor, Moline 16 points
AJ Demirov, South (Crystal Lake) 21 points
Nick Stowasser, South (Crystal Lake) 15 points (sophomore)
Leshawn Stowers, Peoria 21 points (Miami, Ohio commit)
Simereon Carter, Waukgan 21 points (junior)
Jaali "Rico" Love, Waukegan 19 points (junior)
Maddux Heitzleer, Annawan 16 points
Jayden Tyler, Homewood Flossmoor 20 points 5 rebounds 6 assists (Wofford commit)
Jordan Tunis, Schaumburg 16 points
Lyncoln Koester, Mount Zion 23 points
JC Anderson, Mount Zion 17 points (junior)
Keison Peoples, Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin 22 points (junior)
Michael Nee, Glenbard East (Lombard) 24 points (junior)
Bradley Longcor III, Quincy 19 points (Santa Clara commit)
Archie Goewey, Centralia 23 points (freshman)
EJ Breland, St Patrick (Chicago) 26 points (Pittsburg State commit)
Anthony Favia, St Patrick (Chicago) 19 points
Alanas Castillo, Lemont 20 points
Gabe Sularski, Lemont 20 points (junior)
Matas Gaidukevicius, Lemont 17 points
Marquis Clark, Whitney Young (Chicago) 16 points 6 rebounds 5 assists (junior)
Bobby Grganto, North (Downers Grove) 20 points 6 rebounds
Kael Adkins, West Aurora 15 points (4/7 3PT)
Jonah Johnson, Sandburg (Orland Park) 15 points
TJ Tate, Marist (Chicago) 20 points 5 steals (junior)
Marquis Vance, Marist (Chicago) 13 points 11 rebounds (double/double)
Jaxson Davis, Warren Township (Gurnee) 23 points (sophomore)
Davion Thompson, Bolingbrook 22 points 5 assists (sophomore)
JT Pettigrew, Bolingbrook 32 points 13 rebounds (double/double)
Ian Militec, Rolling Meadows 15 points (Marquette commit)
Lazar Lazarevic, Rolling Meadows 15 points 9 rebounds
Cason Newton, Byron 18 points (junior)
Hively, Byron 16 points
Dierre Hill, Althoff (Belleville) 21 points (Oregon football commit)
Zach Winkeler, Althoff (Belleville) 21 points
Ty Laur, Pickneyville 15 points 10 rebounds (double/double)
AJ Keith, Pinckneyville 17 points
Jacob Rice, St Laurence (Burbank) 21 points 11 rebounds (double/double)
Braden Chatman, Guilford (Rockford) 20 points (junior)
Patrick Irvin Jr, Walter Payton College Prep (Chicago) 20 points 12 rebounds (double/double) (junior)
Desmond Opoku Ware, Walter Payton College Prep (Chicago) 13 points 9 rebounds
Adam Anwar, McHenry 15 points (junior)
Zach Sharkey, Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights) 25 points 10 rebounds (double/double)
Delan Davis, Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights) 23 points
Tyler Jolly, Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights) 9 points 14 rebounds
Kam Sweetnam, Tuscola 21 points
Sawyer Woodard, Tuscola 14 points 9 rebounds
Lincoln Williams, Kankakee 31 points 10 rebounds (double/double) 6 steals (junior)
Kenaz Jackson Jr, Kankakee 21 points 7 rebounds
Chase Ruppert, Heyworth 15 points
Jayden Williams, Rich Township (Richton Park) 19 points (junior)
Al Brooks Jr, Rich Township (Richton Park) 18 points 10 rebounds (double/double)
Nyshawn Turner, Rich Township (Richton Park) 18 points 8 rebounds
Evan Ripp, Lincoln Way East (Frankfort) 19 points
Brenden Sanders, Lincoln Way East (Frankfort) 14 points 10 rebounds (double/double)
Hudson Scroggins, Lake Forest 8 points 11 rebounds 2 blocks
Dawson Charles, St Viator (Arlington Heights) 18 points (sophomore)
Daniel Pauliukonis, Benet Academy (Lisle) 20 points (Southern Illinois Carbondale commit)
Aleks Alston, Kenwood Academy (Chicago) 25 points 14 rebounds (double/double) 5 assists 4 blocks
Terrene "TJ" Seals, Kenwood Academy (Chicago) 23 points 10 rebounds (double/double)
Amari Edwards, Kenwood Academy (Chicago) 16 points 3 steals
Danny Bennett Jr, Butler College Prep (Chicago) 23 points
Jayden Armstrong, Catholic Academy (Joliet) 21 points
Jack Supertis, Catholic Academy (Joliet) 15 points
Brendan Loftus, Loyola Academy (Wilmette) 18 points 14rebounds (double/double) (Miami, Ohio football commit)
Robinson, Loyola Academy (Wilmette) 15 points
Jacob Baumann, Christian (Aurora) 27 points
Preston Morel, Christian (Aurora) 17 points
Payton Twait, Serena 20 points (junior)
Beau Raikes, Serena 16 points
Cash Raikes, Serena 17 points (junior)
Cornell Barrow, Wells (Chicago) 32 points (sophomore)
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