Vikings’ win a four- point conclusion
This week has been rough for undefeated teams. First, Jacobs lost to Prairie Ridge, then Brother Rice knocked off Marist. Bogan shocked topranked Simeon on Thursday.
With 26 seconds to play, it appeared that No. 7 Fremd would be next. No. 15 Conant led by three points after Ryan Davis made two free throws.
But Kyle Sliwa, the Vikings’ leader, found a way to extend Fremd’s winning streak to 17. Sliwa faked a shot, then stepped back to get free before draining a three- pointer with 12 seconds to play. He was fouled and made the free throw to give the Vikings a 42- 41 win Friday in Palatine.
“I’ve never really used [ that move] in a game,” Sliwa said. “They were closing out hard on me after I hit a few. Once I saw [ the defender] jump, I knew I was going to shoot it. Even though I missed a few earlier in the game, my teammates kept telling me to shoot it. I knew I was going to hit the next one.”
Fremd ( 17- 0, 6- 0 MidSuburban West) appeared to know a foul was called immediately, but Conant ( 15- 4, 4- 2) didn’t realize it until several seconds later.
“There were some things going on out there that were beyond our control,” Conant coach Tom McCormack said. “We controlled what we could control. That’s all I’ll have to say about that.”
Senior Jimmy Sotos had two shots for the win after the four- point play. He missed a midrange jumper with four seconds left and then an unlikely, off- balance threepointer just before the buzzer. Sotos finished with two points. He was 1- for- 11 from the field.
“Everyone will focus on Kyle’s big shot, and we are happy that Kyle hit that shot, but Ryan Martin and Shaan Patel did a fantastic job on Sotos,” Fremd coach BobWidlowski said.
The Cougars have a major size advantage on Fremd. They outrebounded the Vikings 25- 12. But Fremd’s ball movement and incredible possession skills made up for it. The Vikings committed only six turnovers, including just one in the second half.
“We just hung around, we stayed close,” Widlowski said. “We had to limit our turnovers. It was a very exciting come- from- behind win for us.”
Sliwa led the Vikings with 15 points, and Luke Schoffstall scored 11.
Patel is an underappreciated key to Fremd’s success. The 6- 4 senior is comfortable handling the ball and effective on the perimeter and in the post. He was the only Viking capable of slowing down Conant’s bigs, 6- 9 Ryan Davis ( 13 points, 11 rebounds) and 6- 9 Michael Downing ( 15 points, four rebounds).
“It’s a battle,” Patel said. “I had to fight hard against both of them. I’ve been playing point guard since sophomore year. Now I’m a stretch four to help our team win.”
With two wins over Conant, Fremd is the leading contender to be the top seed in the Elk Grove Sectional.
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