Bolingbrook’s KJ Cathey (4) takes control of the ball against Benet’s Patrick Walsh (4).
Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times
DJ Strong and KJ Cathey are the latest in a long line of Bolingbrook guards who have helped the Raiders evolve from an above-average suburban basketball team into one of the elite programs in the state.
Bolingbrook regularly churns out high-major-college prospects, but it is the team-first senior guards who have been the key to coach Rob Brost’s tenure.
Tuesday in Aurora was a perfect example.
Star freshman Davion Thompson impressed, and junior JT Pettigrew was a force on both ends. That’s enough for almost any opponent to contend with. Add in the reliable, smart play of Strong and Cathey, however, and the Raiders were just too much for Benet.
Bolingbrook beat the Redwings 67-59 in the semifinals of the
Class 4A East Aurora Sectional.
‘‘We share the ball and get everybody involved,’’ Cathey said. ‘‘That’s what makes Bolingbrook, Bolingbrook. Everybody contributed.’’
Thompson led the Raiders (27-4) with 16 points. Strong and Pettigrew added 15 each, Cathey 10 and sophomore Trey Brost nine.
Bolingbrook focused on defending at the rim, and when Benet’s three-point threats struggled in the first half, the Raiders took advantage and built a 33-18 lead.
‘‘We switched up our defenses on them and kind of kept them a little off-balance,’’ Rob Brost said. ‘‘We did a really good job of that because, obviously, they are a very well-coached and talented team.’’
Benet was 2-for-13 from three-point range and 4-for-23 from the field overall in the first half.
‘‘They came out hot shooting, and their defense caused us some problems,’’ Redwings coach Gene Heidkamp said. ‘‘We put ourselves in a big hole against a great team. It’s hard to dig out when their guard play is as strong as it is.’’
Thompson, Strong, Cathey and Brost took care of the ball and rarely took a bad shot.
Benet heated up late and cut the Raiders’ lead to eight on a rebound and basket by junior Daniel Pauliukonis with 2:37 left. But that was as close as the Redwings would get.
Sophomore Gabe Sularski led Benet (27-7) with 25 points, and
senior Patrick Walsh scored 11.
Bolingbrook’s victory against then-top-ranked Homewood-Flossmoor on Jan. 31 put the area on notice. The young Raiders weren’t too inexperienced to beat one of the elite teams in the area.
Bolingbrook is now just two victories from advancing to the state finals in Champaign. The Raiders will face the winner of the sectional semifinal Wednesday between Waubonsie Valley and Downers Grove North for the sectional title Friday.
‘‘We don’t ever talk about how many games we are going to win [in a season],’’ Brost said. ‘‘Not even as a coaching staff. We’ve had a nice season, but we’re not done.’’