Boys Basketball: Thornwood defeats Andrew
By Pat Disabato pdisabato@southtownstar.com February 21, 2012 11:16PM
Thornwood's David Fuller (2) and Khapri Alston (25) celebrate their win over Andrew as time expires during their basketball game in Tinley Park Tuesday, February 21, 2012. | Brett Roseman~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 23, 2012 8:14AM
Thornwood coach Paul Slavich could sense Johnte Shannon was frustrated.
The senior guard was held scoreless by Andrew through three quarters.
Slavich offered a little pep talk before the start of the fourth quarter.
“I told him, ‘Stay calm, you’re going to get your shot and you’re going to knock it down,’ ” Slavich recalled.
That’s precisely what Shannon did, nailing a game-winning three-pointer with 11.5 seconds left to give No. 8 Thornwood a 57-55 victory over No. 2 Andrew in a SouthWest Suburban Red contest in Tinley Park.
The victory assured the Thunderbirds (19-6, 12-1) at least a share of the Red Division crown, their first since 2002. If Thornwood defeats Thornton on Friday night, it wins conference outright.
“That’s the same thing people have been telling me growing up, to keep my head up and to not get down,” Shannon said. “We needed that shot.”
Darrel Combs missed a jumper and the long rebound landed in the hands of Robert Blissitt near the free-throw line. Blissitt hit Shannon with a pass near the left corner. The trey marked Shannon’s only points on the night.
Combs didn’t miss many shots on the evening. The Loyola recruit finished 24 points, including eight straight during an 11-point second-quarter outburst. Khapri Alston was a force inside, adding 13 points for Thornwood.
“I’ve been on the varsity four years and I’ve never had an experience like this,” Combs said. “I’m just so happy. We bonded, we clicked and we’re rolling.”
Jubril Adekoya did everything in his power to lead Andrew (21-2, 11-2), scoring 26 points and adding 10 rebounds. But his attempt at a game-tying shot in the final seconds never was realized, with Thornwood’s David Fuller stripping the ball from Adekoya before he could get off a shot.
Glorind Lisha contributed 10 points for Andrew, which was attempting to win its first conference basketball title.
Andrew led 13-7 after one quarter, 28-26 at halftime and 45-41 heading into the fourth. The Thunderbolts extended their lead to 51-45 on a Mike Bobek layup with 4:03 remaining. Combs, Alston and Justin Kennedy, however, led a charge that eventually saw Thornwood grab a 54-53 lead with 1:05 left to go.
Adekoya converted from inside with 47.2 seconds remaining for a 55-54 advantage.
Moments later, Shannon would step up with the clutch shot.
“It was a great high school basketball game,” Andrew coach Mike O’Halloran said. “It was like a heavyweight fight. We just ran out of time.”
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