Undefeated Kaneland (Maple Park) gets downstate on junior Jeffrey Hassan's layup with 2 seconds left over Morton!! Benet Academy (Lisle) dominates over Auburn (Rockford) both advance to Champaign!!

Hassan's dominance of the paint and rim protecting carries Kaneland. Benet used their size and efficient guard play of Eastern Illinois commit Jayden Wright for chance at repeat. Top performances in the state last night. Here we go:

NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY (DEKALB) SUPERSECTIONAL:

Class 3A:

Kaneland (Maple Park) 49 Morton 47:

I went to a game late in the season at Kaneland. They played LaSalle Peru who gave them a run till the fourth quarter. After the game I talked to senior reserve Isaiah Gipson about their teams schedule, and what they needed to do to get Downstate. I told them no matter the schedule, they need to get their half court defense tight. Well big man Jeffrey Hassan dominated the paint with his rim protecting, blocking shots, and rebounding. The game winner sends his undefeated squad to Champaign with a good chance to get to the title game. They made Morton work for every point they scored. Held star senior Alex McKie to 0 points on 0/8 shooting. This one was back and forth the entire game. Morton led 14-13 after one quarter. Kaneland led at the half 26-23. Morton led 39-38 at the end of three quarters. Morton took a 5 point lead early in the fourth quarter, but Kaneland fought back and took a 4 point lead late. Morton had a couple of steals and scored with 9 seconds left to tie it at 47. Kaneland brought the ball to halfcourt, took a timeout and set up a play. Morton changed defenses constantly in the game from zone to man to man. They came out in a man, and senior Marshawn Cocroft got the ball, Hassan sealed his man in the paint, Cocroft threw it over the defense, Hassan caught it and scored with 2 seconds left. Timeout Morton who got it to McKie and he missed a halfcourt shot.

Kaneland (Maple Park) ups it's record to 35-0 and will face Deerfield in the Semifinals on Friday at 10:00 am.

Morton ends season at 30-5.

Top performances:

Kaneland (Maple Park):

Junior Jeffrey Hassan 17 points 11 rebounds (double/double) 1 steal 6 blocks

Senior Marshawn Cocroft 16 points 2 steals (Grand Valley State commit)

Senior Evan Frieders 11 points

Morton:

Owen Adams 14 points 7 rebounds

Junior Brendan Petty 10 points 10 rebounds (double/double) 1 steal

Senior Silas Steffen 9 points 8 rebounds

Benet Academy (Lisle) 69 Auburn (Rockford) 42:

Auburn started out with a lead as they hit 3 threes for a 11-7 lead early, but Benet slowly started dominating on the interior with their twin towers of junior Edvardas Stasys (6'8") and senior Colin Stack (7'1"). Junior Perry Tchiegne was puttiing pressure on the defense with attacks to the rim. He made a couple of nice passes to Stasys for easy layups. He had 8 points in the first quarter. Benet led 18-16 at the end of the first quarter and never looked back, Went on an 8-0 run to start the second quarter for a 26-16 lead, and led by double digits the rest of the game. Senior point guard Jayden Wright went to work in the second quarter, scoring 8 points on drives to the rim, and assists in the paint. Benet led 34-23 at halftime, and 49-36 after three quarters. Benet eventually put the lead out to 32 points precipitating a running clock.

Benet Academy (Lisle) ups it's record to 35-1 advances to Semifinals for chance at repeat title. They play DePaul College Prep (Chicago) on Friday at 4:15 pm.

Auburn (Rockford) ends season at 27-9.

Top performances:

Benet Academy (Lisle):

Junior Edvardas Stasys 23 points 10 rebounds (double/double)

Senior Jayden Wright 16 points 8 assists 1 steal (Eastern Illinois commit)

Senior Ethan MacDermot 9 points

Auburn (Rockford):

Senior Amir Danforth 20 points 1 steal

Sophmore Mikwan Marshall 10 points 3 steals

Top performances in the state:

Amir Tucker, St Ignatius College Prep (Chicago) 21 points (sophomore)

Karon Shavers, Leo Catholic (Chicago) 22 points (junior)

QJ Gibson, Marshall (Chicago) 10 points 10 rebounds (double/double)

Miller Reynolds, Tremont 15 points

Griffin Meeker, Tremont 14 points

Joseph Lubbe, York Township (Elmhurst) 20 points (junior)

Garrett Church, Goreville 21 points

Lawson Land, Goreville 15 rebounds

Jace Allensworth, Notre Dame (Quincy) 23 points

Alex Johnson, East St Louis 21 points

Tishawn Clemmons, MacArthur (Decatur) 18 points

Reggie Postelwaite, Manual (Peoria) 17 points

Josh Humbles, Manual (Peoria) 14 points

Brown, Manual (Peoria) 14 points

Rykan Woo, DePaul College Prep (Chicago) 17 points (Brown commit)

Evan Nagler, Deerfield 22 points

Chuck Barnes, Marist (Chicago) 15 points 11 rebounds (double/double)

Tre Hoggard, Unity (Tolono) 22 points 7 rebounds 2 blocks

Tyler Henry, Unity (Tolono) 16 points

Dane Eisenmenger, Unity (Tolono) 14 points 5 rebounds

Coen Demack, Bishop McNamara (Kankakee) 20 points 2 steals

Karter Krustinger, Bishop McNamara (Kankakee) 18 points 5 rebounds

Richie Darr, Bishop McNamara (Kankakee) 14 points

Isaac Willis, Indian Creek 16 points

Bryson Mossman, Routt Catholic (Jacksonville) 16 points