As good as it gets
Jaw-dropping slam dunk, mammoth drive in boys golf, birdie run in girls golf highlight truncated 2020
It has been a year like no other. On a professional level, 2020 didn't provide many memories.
With a few exceptions, high school sports have been at a standstill since March.
The boys basketball season never made it to the finish line. In Class 3A and 4A, the Illinois High School Association canceled the postseason after the sectional semifinals due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Itwas a heartbreaking end to the season for the remaining teams, especially for Thornton, which won 32 of 33 games and had the look of a 4A state champion.
We'll never know how the Wildcats, led by coach Tai Streets, would have finished their amazing journey.
At that time, no one knew exactly whatwas ahead for high school sports.
Itwas the great unknown, in many cases blanketed by fear.
The IHSA ultimately decided to cancel the spring season before allowing fall sports to be played without football, girls volleyball and boys soccer.
That's like serving ice cream without cake.
Still, 2020 did leave me with a few memorable moments.
For one, Lincoln-Way Central's Sean Curran smashing a drive pin-high left of the green on the par-4, 400-yardNo. 9 hole at Lick Creek during the Class 3A Pekin Sectional.
Wow.
If I hadn't see the drive with my own two eyes, I might not have believed that a 5-foot-9 kid could hit a ball that far.
Curran, however, is a freak off the tee and an amazing talent. It's why he's headed to Clemson.
How often does a traditionrich program such as Clemson beat the bushes of a New Lenox school to fill out its roster? Not often.
Curran's physical skills and mental toughness, however, ended up being a pretty good match.
Another highlight came in girls golf, seeing Sandburg senior AthenaKwon string together five straight birdies at the Class 2A Hinsdale South Regional. She won the regional with a 3-under 67 at Carriage Greens Country Club in Darien.
Sandburg coach Todd Allen called the five-hole streak “one of the most amazing accomplishments froma high school golfer” that he's ever seen.
I second that.
When I look back at 2020, however, the moment that will remain entrenched inmy mind came on Saturday, Feb. 22 in Oak Forest.
That's when Curie, a 4A boys basketball powerhouse, took on upstart Oak Forest. The Bengals, who entered with a 26-1 record, were looking to prove theywere legit.
A team like Curie very rarely ventures to the Southland for a game. The reality of such an occurrence between David and Goliath attracted a standingroom-only crowd in Oak Forest's gym.
While the Bengals lost 66-55, therewas a moment with 3:21 remaining in the fourth quarter that will forever be burned into the minds of every person in the gym, including mine.
Oak Forest trailed 56-50 when senior Juan Avila came flying through the lane and converted a two-handed tip jam that nearly blew the roof off the gym.
Itwas the type of highlight-reel play many in the gym expected to see from a Curie player. Not Avila, a 6-foot-3 senior forward who was known more for his toughness than athleticism.
What made the dunk even more memorable was Avila adding some style points at the end by pulling his head above the basket while his hands were wrapped around the rim.
I've witnessed a few exciting moments during my 30 years covering Oak Forest in boys basketball, but nothing that elicited the energy and excitement of Avila's dunk.
“I even surprised myself,” Avila said.
Let's hope that 2021 gives us with many more such surprises.