DePaul’s 4th Consecutive Trip to State After Battle with Hersey

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Monday, a competitive Super Sectional took place at NOW Arena. Three-time defending 3A champions DePaul Prep faced Hersey, who made their deepest postseason run in 30 years. DePaul Prep moved up to the 4A class this season and hasn't skipped a beat. Meanwhile, the Huskies pulled off a sectional semifinal upset over Palatine before defeating top-seeded Fremd in double overtime in the sectional final.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hersey held a narrow 15-14 lead after the first quarter and kept things tight through the middle stages, trailing just 27-25 at halftime and 37-33 after three. In the fourth quarter, however, DePaul Prep made efficient buckets while managing the clock to secure a 57-45 victory. Now let's highlight a few key areas from the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Woo and Chambers Lead the Way</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Brown commit [player_tooltip player_id='1435692' first='Rykan' last='Woo'] was fantastic in this matchup, finishing with a game-high 17 points. Most of his damage came using ball screens, where he patiently yet decisively worked his way into the paint to score through contact or dish out well-timed passes around the rim. His ability to weave through the defense made him difficult for opposing defenders to contain. Off the ball, he showed that same effectiveness with constant movement through traffic, forcing defenders to continually trail him. His defensive stamina and quickness also led to turnovers and helped stop drives.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His senior counterpart [player_tooltip player_id='2323334' first='AJ' last='Chambers'], committed to Michigan Tech, was just as effective. His defense led to offense. What stood out with Chambers was his timing when pick-pocketing defenders. He seemed to know exactly when to go for the steal, jump a pass, or position himself in the right spot to create turnovers. He's not an easy matchup, as his defensive pressure forces opposing offenses to work for their points. Chambers also showed touch and feel around the rim where he did most of his scoring, displaying change of pace and balance when finishing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hersey's Admirable Effort Came Up Short</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kudos to the Huskies, as not many people would have picked them not only to win, but even to keep this matchup close. I for one believed this team had the potential to pull off the ultimate upset. They finished the regular season with an 18-7 overall record and placed third in the Mid-Suburban League West behind Palatine and Fremd. Their résumé included two wins against Palatine, one over Hoffman Estates, and another against York, who just secured their trip down to Champaign. With their scoring firepower and key role-player contributions, the Huskies had the pieces to create some March magic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior [player_tooltip player_id='3427255' first='Jake' last='Nawrot'] started the game with a mindset to be a factor in multiple areas. He got going with a finish in traffic, connected on a three from the top of the arc, and then used a backscreen to free himself up for a look at the rim. In the fourth quarter, he added an acrobatic layup, finishing with a scoop shot mid-air. His effort inside made him a big factor scoring down low, while his length and hustle on the boards helped secure crucial possessions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1552439' first='Logan' last='Luxem'] was a fun watch and made the team better whenever he was on the court, helping the offense flow smoother. He ran the point to a tee, displaying solid ball-handling while staying low to the ground and showing quick bursts around corners. His ability to penetrate put pressure on DePaul's defense, opening up the offense as he shared the ball well and finished when getting to the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He also had a big confidence-boosting moment at the halftime buzzer, banking in a half-court heave to cut his Huskies' deficit to 27–25. Add in his three-point shot and he provided scoring both inside and out. Luxem's defensive energy never faded either, as his effort showed in fighting through screens, staying attached to ball-handlers, and tipping balls loose for steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2416503' first='Charlie' last='Pomis'], who put up 30 point games in the sectional semifinal and final, didn't put up those numbers this game, but still found a way to make big time shots and be a leader on the court. His jumpshot includes a serious rise that allows him to shoot over defenders. He had a nice post up that turned into a pull-up jumper and used his frame to score off the glass with defenders on him. If his shot was fully on from mid-range and from three, the outcome would have been even closer or a potential win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2403595' first='Eli' last='Leyva'] made several impact plays when he checked into the game. He knocked down a huge three-pointer in the second quarter to close the gap to five points, and later in the third showed hustle in transition as he followed up a missed layup. When his opportunities arose, Leyva made the most of them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">DePaul Controlled the Tempo</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What the Rams did throughout the game was play efficient basketball, use the clock, and limit the number of possessions Hersey would have. Some basketball fans—and Hersey fans—may have booed when they slowed down the pace, but in reality, they were simply playing their game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1845360' first='Rashaun' last='Porter'], a commit to Toledo, started the game slow on the offensive end as he dealt with multiple eyes and hands whenever he received the ball in the post. Once the second half began, Porter used his size to seal defenders in the paint, rise over them for scores, throw down a dunk, and bounce off the floor for second-chance points. His screening was effective, and his larger frame on the defensive end created difficulties for opposing players inside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2842573' first='Blake' last='Choice'] was impactful in multiple ways. On defense, his quickness on-ball and in gaps, rebounding presence, and ability to generate steals and deflections were all positives throughout the game. Offensively, he contributed scoring from close range and helped keep the ball moving. For a young varsity player, Choice fit seamlessly with the upperclassmen in a big-time game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2376273' first='Zion' last='Lee'] and junior Gus Johnson provided additional size to help lock down the paint and finish at the rim off passes from the guards. They each chipped in 6 and 4 points respectively, with Johnson also having a big block.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->