There are only a handful of talented big men across the entire area. It’s a smaller group than usual and there is no question which player is the best: Nick Allen of Bradley-Bourbonnais.
The 6-11 senior has posted monster numbers all season and that continued on Tuesday in Lockport. Allen finished with 23 points, 19 rebounds and four blocks to lead the Boilermakers to a 58-53 victory against the Porters.
“Everything we do on both sides of the ball revolves around what he does,” Bradley-Bourbonnais coach Ryan Kemp said. “He’s a unicorn that has such special gifts.”
Allen’s 17th rebound was the most important. Lockport sophomore Nedas Venckus had a good look from the top of the key with 20 seconds left. If the three-pointer had gone in the Porters would have taken a one-point lead. It didn’t fall and Allen grabbed the board.
“You definitely have to attack [an important rebound like that] as soon as it comes off the rim,” Allen said. “You can’t let that one get by.”
Lane’s Dalton Scantlebury, DePaul Prep’s Rashaun Porter and Benet’s Colin Stack are the area’s other leading bigs. Allen, an Illinois State recruit, hasn’t faced any of them this season so he’s had a clear advantage in nearly every game Bradley-Bourbonnais has played. But that isn’t always fun.
“There’s just a lot of fouling,” Allen said. “I get a lot of hits in the face and grabs in the arm from little guys.”
Bradley-Bourbonnais (20-7, 12-5 Southwest Suburban) took control of the game with a 10-0 run late in the third quarter Lockport (19-11, 10-6) rallied back behind senior guard Bryce Turner, who made three three-pointers in the fourth quarter. Turner’s three with 2:49 cut the Boilermakers’ lead to 52-51 but Lockport was never able to tie the game.
Junior Liam Martin made two free throws with 19 seconds left to help seal the win for Bradley-Bourbonnais.
“I’ve been a little inconsistent at the line this season,” Martin said. “But I just had some trust I was going to make those two.”
Martin finished with 13 points and junior Gavin Kohl added 10 points and four rebounds for the Boilermakers.
Venckus led Lockport with 15 points and six rebounds. Turner scored 14 points and senior Collin Miller added 12 points for the Porters.
It’s been nearly 30 years since Bradley-Bourbonnais won a regional. Allen says that’s the goal this season. It won’t be easy. The Boilermakers face a feisty Minooka team in the regional semifinals and then could face Normal in the regional final.
Normal beat Bradley-Bourbonnais 50-38 in late December. The Ironmen have a talented big man in 6-9 Kobe Walker.
“Our offensive game plan has to be a little better this time,” Allen said. “We need to beat their zone. I’m excited. It’s been too long since Bradley-Bourbonnais won a regional.”