Benet, DePaul Prep win semis, setting up first all-private school championship game in Pontiac's long history
PONTIAC—Simeon and Benet have played several important, exciting games over the past decade. The matchup lived up to its legacy in the semifinals of the 93rd Pontiac Holiday Tournament on Saturday.
There were too many twists and turns, ups and downs, celebrations and heartbreaks to recount them all. The crucial moment fell on Jayden Wright’s shoulders. The Benet junior made three free throws with four seconds left to give the Redwings a 67-66 win against Simeon in overtime.
Simeon’s Andre Tyler managed to get off a half-court heave at the buzzer, but it didn’t fall.
The Wolverines led 66-62 after two free throws by Kamari Hamlin with 14 seconds left in overtime. Benet led for most of the game and by double digits for a significant portion of the second half.
Redwings guard Blake Fagbemi cleverly drew a foul on a near half-court shot attempt with eight seconds left. Fagbemi made two of the three free throws to cut Simeon’s lead to 66-64.
The Wolverines’ next possession ended with a turnover on a double dribble call. Benet took advantage, finding Wright in the corner for a three-pointer. He missed the shot but was fouled and made all three free throws.
Wright finished with 16 points. Fagbemi led Benet (13-1) with 21 points and eight rebounds. Daniel Pauliukonis scored 15 points.
Senior guard Lorenzo Shields led Simeon (7-4) with 21 points, five assists and five rebounds. Senior Julien Doyle, who spearheaded the comeback, added 13 points for the Wolverines.
Shields made a buzzer-beater three-pointer to send the game to overtime.
Simeon ties it at the buzzer! Lorenzo Shields nails a three-pointer to send the game to OT.
— Michael O'Brien (@michaelsobrien) December 28, 2024
Simeon 57, Benet 57 in the semifinals at Pontiac. pic.twitter.com/ZGFLopr5ps
DePaul Prep hangs on against Curie
Like Simeon, Curie roared back late in the Pontiac semifinals before falling short. DePaul Prep held off the Condors’ comeback to win 68-64.
Senior Rob Walls made two crucial free throws with 12 seconds left to help seal the win for the Rams (13-1).
Rashaun Porter, a 6-7 senior, led DePaul Prep with 18 points. Junior Rykan Woo added 17 points and five rebounds and WIU recruit Makai Kavmme added 14 points and four assists.
The Rams led 61-49 after two free throws from Kvamme with 3:49 left. Junior Justin Oliver scored seven points in less than two minutes to help pull the Condors close. His jumper with 19 seconds left made it 66-62 but that was as close as it would get.
Oliver led the Condors (10-2) with 15 points and Michael Oliver Jr. scored 14.
DePaul Prep and Benet will meet in the championship game at 9 p.m. on Saturday. It’s the first time in the tournament’s history that two private schools will match up in the title game. The last private school to win the championship was Providence-St. Mel in 1984.
Simeon and Curie have combined to win the last 13 titles at Pontiac. The last non-Public League team to win the championship was Waukegan in 2009.