HINSDALE CENTRAL HOLIDAY CLASSIC

HC SQUARED:  Building a New Tradition of Basketball at Its Best
 

2018 GAME 13 RECAP: Marian Catholic 58, Willowbrook 54

Box Score

HINSDALE, Ill. – Marian Catholic held off a second-half rally from Willowbrook to score a 58-54 win and secure a spot in the semifinals of the 2018 Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic.

Marian Catholic (10-10 raced out to a 14-4 start in the opening quarter. The Spartans led by as many as 14 points in the opening quarter and carried a 22-13 lead into the second. Marian Catholic continued to pull away in the second, extending their lead up to 19 points at 33-14. The Spartans led 36-20 at the half.

Willowbrook (7-4) surged back in the second half. The Warriors started the quarter on a 17-6 run, pulling to within five points. Marian’s lead was down to seven points (44-37) after three quarters. Marian Catholic pushed its lead back up to nine with five minutes remaining, but Willowbrook used a 10-2 run over the next 2:30 to close to within a point. Marian Catholic was able to put the game away from the free throw line, hitting 5-of-7 attempts in the closing 2:30.

Marian Catholic shot 52.6 percent (20-of-38) from the floor and won the rebounding battle 39-27. Ahron Ulis powered the Spartans with 19 points and three assists while Christopher White finished with a double-double of 13 points, 12 rebounds and a single-game tournament record of seven blocked shots. The Spartans blocked 14 shots as a squad, also establishing a new single-game record in the process.

Willowbrook hit 31.1 percent (19-of-61) of its shots but struggled from three-point range, shooting just 16.7 percent (4-of-24) from downtown. Everett Stubblefield led the way with 17 points and six assists while Matas Masys totaled 13 points for the Warriors.

Marian Catholic will face the winner of the DePaul Prep/St. Charles East contest in tomorrow’s 7:00 p.m. semifinal. Willowbrook will take on the loser of the DePaul Prep/St. Charles East game tomorrow at 3:45 p.m.