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Not without a fight: SHG ends four-year run in supersectional with double overtime loss

ryan mahan, state journal-register
·4 min read
Sacred Heart-Griffin's Jake Hamilton attempts a layup against East St. Louis' Cameron Boone during the Class 3A boys basketball supersectional game at the Bank of Springfield Center on Monday, March 6, 2023. The Flyers won 59-56 in double overtime.
Sacred Heart-Griffin's Jake Hamilton attempts a layup against East St. Louis' Cameron Boone during the Class 3A boys basketball supersectional game at the Bank of Springfield Center on Monday, March 6, 2023. The Flyers won 59-56 in double overtime.

It took double overtime to crown Sacred Heart-Griffin state champions a year ago. It took double overtime for East St. Louis to end the Cyclones’ reign on Monday.

The SHG seniors bow out 59-56 but not before a stellar four-year career that saw the Cyclones qualify for the state tournament twice, win three sectionals and capture the school’s first boys basketball state championship. The run ended at the hands of the Flyers, who lost to SHG 60-50 in the supersectional a year ago.

“You hate for either one of us to lose this game,” East St. Louis coach Mark Chambers said. “That’s a championship team over there and they competed like it.”

As freshmen, the Class of 2023 helped SHG qualify for the 2020 Class 2A state tournament. The excitement was quickly dashed as the rampaging COVID-19 pandemic forced the Illinois High School Association to end all sports before SHG could leave for Peoria.

As juniors, Sacred Heart-Griffin marched to the Class 3A state title with a 53-50 double overtime win over Metamora in the first year the tournament was moved back to Champaign. The 2020-21 season was shortened and did not include a postseason opportunity because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Sacred Heart-Griffin's Jake Hamilton attempts a shot against East St. Louis during the Class 3A boys basketball supersectional game at the Bank of Springfield Center on Monday, March 6, 2023.
Sacred Heart-Griffin's Jake Hamilton attempts a shot against East St. Louis during the Class 3A boys basketball supersectional game at the Bank of Springfield Center on Monday, March 6, 2023.

But SHG’s magic ended after three starters fouled out, including two in the second overtime: Zack Hawkinson and KeShon Singleton. Will Hamilton picked up his fifth foul in the first overtime.

The Flyers’ Macaleab Rich scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and in the two overtime periods to finish with a game-high 24 points. He was 14 of 15 at the free-throw line, including 7-for-8 in overtime.

Jake Hamilton and Hawkinson each netted 21 points for SHG (31-4) but East St. Louis forced the Cyclones into three turnovers in a four-possession span in the second overtime and capitalized with a pair of free throws from Rich, a bucket from Antwan Robinson and another free throw from Jaion Jackson.

It took a miraculous shot for the Flyers to even get to double overtime — much like it took an extraordinary shot from Singleton to beat Metamora at the buzzer of the 2022 state championship game.

“We’ve been on the other end where we made the shot (to win),” SHG coach Tim Allen said. “Today, it was their time and they made the shot, did what they had to do. Man, Macaleab Rich is a ton.”

Rich drove the length of the floor with 12.2 seconds to play at the end of the first overtime with East St. Louis trailing SHG 51-49. His shot attempt over Singleton missed and Davis Bynum couldn’t covert two chances at tips near the rim. Hawkinson poked it loose from Robinson’s hands but D’Necco Rucker grabbed it and quickly threw it toward the rim where it went through nothing but net as time expired to send the game to a second extra four minutes.

Hawkinson fouled out with 1:31 to play after he scored the first three points of the second OT. Singleton then was disqualified with 55.2 seconds to go.

With East St. Louis leading 56-54, Jamarian Bardwell blocked Jackson at the rim and found older brother J’veon Bardwell at the other end of the court who tied the game 56-56 with 1:04 to play.

It was a rugged defensive effort from both teams, especially early. Midway through the second quarter, SHG led 15-14 and held a 23-19 halftime lead. SHG broke out with a 6-0 run to take a 29-21 lead halfway through the third before the Flyers came storming back to pull within 35-33 at the turn for home.

Sacred Heart-Griffin's Zack Hawkinson drives against East St. Louis' Cameron Boone during the Class 3A boys basketball supersectional game at the Bank of Springfield Center on Monday, March 6, 2023.
Sacred Heart-Griffin's Zack Hawkinson drives against East St. Louis' Cameron Boone during the Class 3A boys basketball supersectional game at the Bank of Springfield Center on Monday, March 6, 2023.

East St. Louis’ final point of regulation came with 1:27 left in the fourth quarter to give the Flyers a 45-44 lead. J’veon Bardwell made one of his two free-throw attempts with 33.5 seconds left to tie the game. Defense held out to force the first overtime.

“Coach told us to keep staying positive, keep playing our game and keep executing as a team,” Rich said. “We just wanted to come out and play hard.

“We had a chip on our shoulder because they beat us last year. We wanted to come in this game and play our hardest.”

Contact Ryan Mahan: 788-1546, ryan.mahan@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/RyanMahanSJR.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Macaleab Rich, East St. Louis dash SHG hopes for state title repeat