The Marist Boys Basketball team overpowered Sandburg 73-60 Friday night to clinch back-to-back regional championships, showcasing their dominance as they advance to sectionals.
The RedHawks opened the IHSA state tournament on fire against Eisenhower, completely dismantling the Cardinals with a dominant 49-point victory.
“Overall, it was just a fun game to watch,” said junior manager Zachary Larson. “It was great to see how dominant the team could be.”
The juniors led the charge for Marist against Eisenhower. Karson Thomas, a junior transfer from Lincoln-Way East, started off hot and finished with 19 points. Stephen Brown and Rokas Zilys followed closely with 18 and 14 points, respectively.
“The offense completely took over,” said Larson.
Marist carried that momentum into Game 2 against Sandburg, picking up right where they left off. Fueled by the home crowd and a packed student section full of rowdies, the RedHawks controlled the game from start to finish, securing the victory to claim the regional championship.
“It feels great to be a regional champ,” said junior guard Ryan Lawlor. “At the same time, we have to get ready to play tougher and tougher teams from here on out.”
Once again, the juniors made their presence felt in the win over Sandburg. TJ Tate led all scorers with 20 points while also racking up five steals. Karson Thomas added 14 points, while senior captain Marquis Vance contributed 13.
“Marquis plays a big role in the locker room,” said Lawlor. “His leadership sets the tone for everyone, and you could see that energy translate on the court.”
With home court defended and a regional championship secured, Marist now shifts its focus to sectionals. The RedHawks will face Rich Township on their turf on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
“We practice every day and watch film to prepare ourselves for big games like these,” said Lawlor.
The RedHawks enter sectionals ranked No. 2 in the state by popular Illinois high school athletics Instagram account, Sloche Official. Their sectional includes other top-ranked teams such as Top 10 honorable mention Rich Township and No. 3-ranked Homewood-Flossmoor. The team knows they’re in one of the toughest sectionals in the state, but they aren’t letting that bother them.
“We’ve been focusing on one game at a time,” said assistant coach Joseph Pettinger. “The only things we can control are our game plan, watching film, and making sure everyone is in a good place physically and mentally come Wednesday.”
As the RedHawks prepare for their toughest test yet, the commitment and brotherhood of the team continues to shine. With a regional title now in their rearview mirror, they know the road ahead is only going to get tougher. But one thing is certain: this Marist team is ready for the challenge
“It’s all about staying focused,” said Lawlor. “We’ve got a job to do, and we’re not backing down.”
The RedHawks hope to bring their momentum and get that much closer to a state championship after Wednesday night’s game.
