Deerfield's Champaign dreams come true in supersectional win against St. Francis

An awful lot has to go right for a basketball team to advance to the IHSA state finals. Since Deerfield opened in 1959, those circumstances never had come together.

The Warriors knew a run to Champaign in Class 3A this season was possible in November. On Monday at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, senior star Jake Pollack and his teammates turned the dream into reality by defeating St. Francis 51-36 in the supersectional.

‘‘The first time in history,’’ Pollack said. ‘‘To be able to do this for our town, with all the fans here, is so special.’’

Deerfield’s quest for Champaign took on a different form this month. It went from one team’s dream to one town’s dream. During the past few weeks, Pollack and his teammates watched as their school and community started to embrace high school basketball.

‘‘The whole community in these last two weeks has been like nothing I’ve ever seen before,’’ Pollack said. ‘‘Everyone has been so active and so together.’’

Warriors coach Dan McKendrick said several Deerfield restaurants signed up for NFHS, the streaming service that carries the high school playoffs.

‘‘People want to go and get dinner and watch the game,’’ McKendrick said.

Deerfield will face undefeated Kaneland in the Class 3A semifinals Friday at the State Farm Center.

The Warriors (24-11) jumped out to an 18-5 lead, then nearly gave it all away by scoring only two points in the second quarter.

Senior guard Evan Nagler finished with 20 points, three rebounds and two blocks. His aggressive third quarter helped Deerfield take a 35-23 lead into the fourth. The Spartans (17-15) never challenged again.

Pollack, a 6-9 Dartmouth recruit, contributed 11 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and three steals. He scored seven points in the first quarter before facing intense defense from St. Francis’ Ben Whorlow, a 6-8 junior.

‘‘It’s really been a point to me that I need to set the tone for our team by going to the rim and being super-aggressive from the jump,’’ Pollack said. ‘‘When we come out and punch a team in the mouth like that, it is really hard to battle back and play from behind the whole game.’’

Sophomore Charlie Yellen added six points and junior Tommy Donahue five for the Warriors.

‘‘[Pollack] is the big brother,’’ McKendrick said. ‘‘The team feeds off his poise. He gets fouled more than anyone I’ve coached. He keeps his head and keeps going and keeps trying. He has done a really good job of being unselfish and allowing other kids to step up in big moments.’’

Senior Carter Clark led the Spartans with 10 points and six rebounds. Dylan Liner added six points and five rebounds and Johnny Shannon six points.

St. Francis took its lumps this season, finishing 1-7 in the rugged Catholic League Blue. The Spartans started the season 6-10, then advanced to the supersectional.

‘‘The character they have will help them the rest of their lives,’’ St. Francis coach Erin Dwyer said. ‘‘Every guy made adjustments this season to make us a better team. As a high school coach, you can’t ask for more.’’