Iowa commits dominated this game for Moline. Brock Harding (6'0") from perimeter, while Owen Freeman (6'10' center) took care of the paint area on both ends. Harding was a line maestro for his first three years. Then the Freeman brothers (Braden is a 6'6" sophomore) from Bradley Bourbonnais. State title dreams danced in the heads of the players and fans. They made it a reality last night.
Moline 59 Benet Academy (Lisle) 42: Moline controlled the tempo from the start as Harding scored early and often for the second game in a row. He ended up with 28 points on 7 for 11 shooting, 3 for 6 from three, and 11 for 14 from the free throw line with 3 steals. He was fouled twice shooting threes in the first half. He was the only one in double figures. While he was scoring Owen Freemsn was giving Benet a hard time with his rim protecting in the paint. He had only one block, but altered a bunch of shots. He had 6 points 9 rebounds and 3 assists. When Freeman was in foul trouble, Jasper Ogburn (6'1" senior forward) and Treyvon Taylor (6'5" sophomore wing) had some key offensive rebounds and put backs. Ogburn and Taylor both had 6 rebounds. Benet had three players in double figures led by Brayden Fagbemi (6'0" senior point guard), a Johns Hopkins commit, with 12 points 2 rebounds 2 assists and 2 steals before fouling out early in fourth quarter, Andy Nash (6'4" senior guard) had 12 points and 4 rebounds. Niko Abusara (6'5" senior wing), a Dartmouth commit had 10 points 5 rebounds but on 5 for 18 shooting and 5 turnovers. They missed Brady Kunka (6'3" senior guard) who sprained his ankle in the semifinals and did not play.
Moline ends season with a 35-3 record and a championship. Benet Academy (Lisle) loses first game of 2023 and ends with a 35-2 record and a runners-up finish.
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