Heading into the IHSA Class 3A state tournament, Fenwick boys basketball coach David Fergerson wanted his team to be sharp on defense during the regional.
Not only did the Friars meet Fergerson’s defensive aim, they were dominant. In two regional games at Little Village, Fenwick allowed a combined total of 43 points en route to winning the regional for a third consecutive season.
In the semifinals, Feb. 21, the Friars routed Schurz 57-17. Then in the final, Feb. 23, Fenwick cruised to a 48-26 victory over Bulls Prep and claimed the title.
“We just wanted to come out of there 2-0,” Fergerson said. “It’s not like those teams laid there and rolled over; they competed and we had to earn it. We wanted to focus on defense and rebounding.”
But the degree of difficulty rises exponentially this week as third-seed Fenwick (18-10), hosting a 3A sectional, meets second-seed St. Patrick in a semifinal, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.
“They’re tough. Coach [Mike] Bailey has been there a long time and he’s going to have his guys ready,” Fergerson said. “We just have to come out and play hard, defend, and rebound.”
At this point in the season where it’s all about surviving and advancing, style points don’t matter. To Fergerson, even a 1-point victory will do.
“We’re not looking to impress anyone,” he said. “People are not talking about us, and that’s perfectly fine. We just need to get one more win on Wednesday.”
The Fenwick-St. Patrick winner meets either top seed Westinghouse or fourth seed Payton Prep in the sectional final, March 1 at 7 p.m.
OPRF
Oak Park-River Forest’s Max Johnson goes up for a layup during an IHSA Class 4A boys basketball regional semifinal Feb. 21 against Niles North. Johnson had 27 points in the Huskies’ 85-80 victory. 
Oak Park-River Forest’s Johnny Nelson goes up strong against Niles North in an IHSA Class 4A boys basketball regional semifinal on Feb. 21. The Huskies defeated the Vikings 85-80 in overtime. | Carol Dunning 
Oak Park-River Forest’s Johnny Nelson goes up strong against Niles North in an IHSA Class 4A boys basketball regional semifinal on Feb. 21. The Huskies defeated the Vikings 85-80 in overtime. 
Oak Park-River Forest’s Justin Bowen lays one up against Niles North during an IHSA Class 4A boys basketball regional semifinal on Feb. 21. Bowen had five of his 15 points in overtime as the Huskies prevailed 85-80. | Carol Dunning 
Oak Park-River Forest’s Alex Gossett goes to the basket against Niles North during an IHSA Class 4A boys basketball regional semifinal on Feb. 21. Gossett’s 25 points helped the Huskies prevail 85-80 in overtime. | Carol Dunning
Oak Park and River Forest had perhaps its best victory of the season on Feb. 21 in a Class 4A regional semifinal, upsetting Niles North 85-80 in overtime at OPRF. Alex Vincent’s short jumper with 3.3 seconds left in regulation tied the game at 72-72 and forced the extra four minutes.
The Huskies (9-17) then started overtime with a 9-2 run to put Niles North away. Max Johnson finished with 27 points. Alex Gossett had 25 points, and Justin Bowen added 15, including five in overtime.
On Feb. 23, OPRF was hoping to spring another upset, facing visiting New Trier in the regional final. But after a tight first half, the Trevians gradually pulled away to hand the Huskies a season-ending 66-51 defeat.
OPRF trailed by just four points when with 5:44 left in the third quarter, Johnson committed his fourth foul and had to sit out the rest of it.
“That foul affected the game,” said OPRF coach Phil Gary. “I had to sit Max out for a long time.”
New Trier went on a 7-0 run after Johnson came out, then started the fourth quarter scoring 10 consecutive points to effectively put things away.
Bowen had a team-high 15 points, while Gossett finished with 10, and Johnson and Vincent had eight apiece.
Despite the loss, Gary felt OPRF made progress this season, even if it wasn’t reflected in the won-loss record.
“We made it to a regional championship game with a lot of juniors and two sophomores. It’s a stepping stone,” he said. “We played an amazing game — probably our best of the year — against Niles North, and we showed a lot of progress the last two weeks.”
Johnson is one of four OPRF players who will be lost to graduation (Joe Halper, John Lambe, and Oscar Towne IV are the others).
But the Huskies will have several key returnees next season as Bowen, Gossett, and Vincent all have one year remaining. Sophomore Johnny Nelson, who moved into the starting lineup late in the year, also returns.
“I told the guys that we have to remember this moment into the offseason,” Gary said. “We lost the regional championship game on our home floor, and we don’t want to have this feeling next year.”