Spearman leads Simeon past Benet in 2 OTs
By Drake Skleba
With 6.1 seconds left in regulation in Tuesday night's Class 4A Hinsdale Central Supersectional, Benet Academy's Dave Sobolewski stood at the free throw line. The junior guard sank the first of two shots to give the Redwings a 39-36 lead.
Without a time out and trailing by three, Simeon needed a Sobolewski miss to keep their season alive. The Wolverines wish was granted. Sobolewski missed and senior Brandon Spearman grabbed the rebound and raced down the court and launched a 30-foot buzzer-beater that tied the score at 39.
Spearman scored 17 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter and the two overtimes to lead Simeon past Benet 58-50 in double overtime.
Spearman bailed out the Wolverines again at the end of the first overtime. With 2.5 seconds left and Benet leading 46-44, Spearman sank two free throws to extend the game.
In the second overtime, with Simeon up 52-47, Benet junior guard Matt Parisi nailed a three-pointer for his only points of the game to bring Benet within 52-50.
Spearman and sophomore guard Jaleni Neely (14 points) nailed free throws down the stretch to salt away the win.
Spearman will play his college ball at Dayton next year .
"We survived all the trial and tribulations of this great game," said Simeon head coach Robert Smith. "Brandon (Spearman) would not allow us to lose and his career to end. Heck, he wants to keep on playing.
"Benet is a great basketball team. They are the toughest defensive team we have faced this season. They do not give you any shots."
The Wolverines (23-9) will meet O'Fallon (30-2) at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Carver Arena in Peoria. O'Fallon went an extra session to beat Joliet 53-50 at the Illinois State Class 4A Supersectional in Normal.
Sobolewski led Benet (26-4) with 20 points. The Redwings received a fine game from 6-foot-10 junior center Frank Kaminsky, who recorded a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.
