Stanton, Downers North’s defense too much for top seed Bolingbrook
Jack Stanton watched his 3-point attempt from the top of the key to end the third quarter hit front rim, roll to the back and drop in, and the Downers Grove North senior guard thought one thing.
“We’re going to win the sectional championship,” Stanton said.
Stanton showcased his shooting touch with that shot. The Princeton recruit and his teammates had it all going Friday night.
Stanton scored 23 points and displayed a brilliant all-around game, and second-seeded Downers Grove North put forth another masterful defensive clinic in beating top-seeded Bolingbrook 69-52 in the Class 4A East Aurora sectional final.
Downers Grove North (31-4), a year after a magical run to fourth place in Class 4A, made more history Friday, back-to-back sectional championships for the first time in school history. It’s their third total sectional title.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Downers Grove North coach Jim Thomas said. “Just the way the kids carry themselves and play and compete. I’m glad I have a front-row seat to it. We got a bunch of great kids playing well at the right time.”
Stanton shot 9 for 13 with three of Downers Grove North’s nine 3-pointers and also had five assists and four steals. Alex Miller added 16 points and hit four 3-pointers, and Owen Thulin had 10 points and nine assists for the Trojans, who advance to face Normal Community in Monday’s supersectional at Illinois State’s CEFCU Arena. Downers Grove North beat Normal 40-35 in January in Wheaton.
JT Pettigrew scored 16 points and KJ Cathey 14 for Bolingbrook (27-5).
All five Bolingbrook starters scored in the first quarter, the Raiders leading by as many as six points. But Stanton’s NBA-range 3-pointer capped off an 8-0 Downers Grove North run that gave the Trojans a 21-16 lead midway through the second quarter.
With Downers Grove North leading 26-21 at halftime, Stanton scored nine of his 23 points in the third quarter as the Trojans opened up a double-digit lead.
“I was open, so I was like, why not shoot it,” Stanton said of his deep 3-pointer in the second quarter. “I’m going to let it fly. My teammates trust me, and I trust them.”
When he wasn’t making shots from all over the court, including a nifty fadeaway jumper in the lane to start the third quarter, Stanton was setting up his teammates with drives and assists. Stanton’s 3-pointer to end the third quarter sent Downers Grove North into the fourth up 45-33.
“He’s a problem,” Thomas said. “I know everybody talks about Jack. I could sit here and tell you story after story. He just wills himself on other teams.”
Bolingbrook was able to get to the free-throw line 10 times in the first half in a physical game, but struggled to find any rhythm offensively. No surprise, Downers Grove North had not given up 40 points in a playoff game before Friday.
Bolingbrook only managed one field goal in an 11-minute stretch spanning the last minute of the first quarter and first minutes of the fourth. Of Bolingbrook’s 43 shot attempts, 28 came from beyond the 3-point line, and the Raiders rarely got anything in transition in shooting 37.2% for the game.
On top of that, Downers Grove North shot a blistering 61.4% from the floor.
“That was a concern coming in, was how we were going to score points,” Bolingbrook coach Rob Brost said. “They’re very physical and tough. You have to give them a lot of credit. When they’re hitting shots like they did tonight, they’re really tough to beat.”
Thulin, two nights after holding Waubonsie Valley standout Tyreek Coleman to eight points, had a similar effort against dynamic Bolingbrook freshman Davion Thompson. Thompson scored just seven points on 2-for-7 shooting.
“To be honest, just pressure him,” Thulin said. “I got four guys behind my back if I get beat. Knowing that, it helps me play on the ball.”