Timi Ogunsanya of Evanston Township was not ready for his career to end. Outduels Trey Williams of Loyola Academy (Wilmette) and wins in three overtimes! Free throws!! Top performances in the state!

IHSA Class 4A Sectional Semifinal. Evanston Township has a history of playoff success under Head Coach Mike Ellis. Three trips to state finals (COVID kept him from possibly two more), two third place finishes and another Supersectional appearance. I went to an open gym in early September 2025 (they are always my first visit), and like most thought they would take a step back this year. I also said they could surprise which they have. They are in another sectional final in a heart stomping three overtime classic.

#2 seed Evanston Township 77 #3 seed Loyola Academy (WIlmette) 70:

WILMETTE:

First matchup in the regular season was decided on a last second three by sophomore Ben Ojala dribbling down court and launching a 30 foot three point shot that hit nothing but net. This one went far longer than the first game but with the same result. First one was in historic Beardsley Gym, this one was in Loyola Academy's gym. Evanston controlled the first quarter, but Cornell commit Williams hit a three from just across half court to cut Evanston's lead to 16-13 at the end of one. Loyola controlled the tempo in the second quarter and had a 3 point lead, until Ogunsanya scored on a drive to the basket at the second quarter buzzer. Loyola led 24-23 going into halftime. Loyola should have had a bigger lead but only hit 3/9 from the free throw line in the half. Third quarter Evanston got some seperation as Ogunsanya went to work hitting two threes and 10 points in the quarter. Williams had 6 but Evanston took a 40-38 lead into the fourth quarter. Then things got good as Williams started attacking the basket off the bounce and putting pressure on the defense. He had 6 more points in the quarter, but Ogunsanya had 7 as he had a four point play to go up 53-49 with less than 2 minutes left, Loyola came back and scored four points to make it 53 all at end of regulation as Evanston had a key turnover on inbounds pass to give Loyola a chance to win it but they didn't convert.

First overtime:

Evanston and Loyola didn't score much in this period and they exchanged turnovers but sophomore Ben Ojala had a key three point play, then Williams came back with a basket and split 1/2 free throws. Game was tied at 58 with 20 seconds left. Loyola held the ball, called a timeout, then Williams drove to the basket and tried to shoot over two Evanston defenders and missed. Senior Broderick Munsey-Johnson had a clear tip in opportunity with no one around him to send Loyola to Sectional Final, but missed the one hand tip attempt. Tied at 58.

Second overtime:

Key play was a ball fake by Ogunsanya to get Williams in the air and commit his fifth personal foul. This play kept the only play penetrating the defense off the bounce out of the game. Evanston had trouble the entire game keeping him out of the paint. Ogunsanya, who went 8/8 from the free throw line in the overtimes, hit both to give Evanston a two point lead. Senior Denison commit Sam Golden hit a driving two for Loyola Academy to tie it. Junior Vito Rocca misses a long two that went in and out and Evanston got the rebound but time ran out. Tied at 65.

Third overtime:

Evanston gets a two point lead on two free throw by Ogunsanya, then he steals the ball from Golden and scores a layup for another four point cushion in the overtime period. Junior Tate Scroeder of Evanston scores on a pass from Rocca in the lane. Golden hits two free throws, junior Luke Alvarez for Loyola Academy splits 1/2 free throws and scored a basket in the period. Ogunsanya hits 2 free throws to put Evanston up 73-70 with 12.8 seconds left. Loyola missed, and fouls Ogunsanya who hits 2 more free throws for 75-70 lead. Golden misses a long three, junior Dion Lane Jr gets the rebounds and scores a layup at the buzzer for final margin.

NOTE:

Loyola Academy (WIlmette) went 14/26 from the free throw line, Evanston Township went 15/16 from the free throw line, there's the difference in the game.

According to Evanston Athletics: Evanston Township has won 24 consecutive overtime games. Possibly a state record!!!!

Evanston Township ups it's record to 27-6 and advances to IHSA Loyola Academy (Wilmette) Class 4A Sectional Final vs Top seed DePaul College Prep (Chicago).

Loyola Academy (Wilmette) ends season at 27-7.

Top performances:

Evanston Township:

Senior Timi Ogunsanya 32 points (5/9 3PT) 4 assists 1 steal

Junior Dion Lane Jr 15 points 1 block

Junior Vito Rocca 13 points 9 rebounds

Sophomore Ben Ojala 8 points 6 rebounds 8 assists 1 block

Loyola Academy (Wilmette):

Senior Trey Williams 24 points 5 assists 3 blocks

Junior Luke Alvarez 12 points

Senior Sam Golden 11 points

Senior Broderick Munsey-Johnson 11 points 5 rebounds 2 steals

Top performances in state:

Darrin "DJ" Laye, Marshall (Chicago) 23 points 10 rebounds 10 assists (triple double) 6 steals (sophomore)

Rayvon Miles, Marshall (Chicago) 21 points 10 assists (double/double)

Kalvin Leonard, St Francis De Sales (Chicago) 30 points

Cam Johnson, U-High (Normal) 22 points

Alex Ortega, Wauconda 20 points 1 steal

Tony Salemi, Wauconda 18 points 7 rebounds 2 steals 2 blocks

Latrell Kelley, Farragut Academy (Chicago) 28 points 6 assists

Deangelo Embrey, Farragut Academy (Chicago) 22 points 10 rebounds (double/double) (junior)

Delonte Cook, Farragut Academy (Chicago) 10 points 10 rebounds (double/double)

EJ Hazelett, Kankakee 19 points 10rebounds (double/double) 2 steals 1 block (Indiana State commit)

Lincoln Williams, Kankakee 16 points 5 steals 2 blocks

Marcus Johnson, Sycamore 30 points (8 3PT) 5 steals

Isaiah Feuerbach, Sycamore 21 points 7 rebounds

Cole Dubois, East Peoria 19 points (junior)

Jayden Riley, Christian (Yorkville) 28 points (Southern Illinois Edwardsville commit)

Stephen Brown, Marist (Chicago) 18 points 13 rebounds (double/double) (NC State football commit)

Jake Pollack, Deerfield 23 points 8 rebounds (Dartmouth commit)

Evan Nagler, Deerfield 18 points 5 rebounds

Tommy Donahue, Deerfield 16 points (4/7 3PT) 2 blocks

Brady Pettigrew, Bolingbrook 25 points (sophomore)

Jayden Madden, Bolingbrook 13 rebounds

Cole Kelly, Neuqua Valley (Naperville) 17 points 7 rebounds (sophomore)

Isaac Willis, Indian Creek (Shabonna) 19 points

Parker Murry, Indian Creek (Shabonna) 15 points

Nolan Price, Woodland (Streator) 25 points

Stephen Dixon, DeLaSalle Institute (Chicago) 19 points (sophomore)

Cory Wellere Jr, King College Prep (Chicago) 16 points

Matt Welch, Glenbard North (Carol Stream) 20 points