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Boys Basketball: Johnte Shannon’s game-winning three gives Thornwood upset win over Andrew
Updated: February 21, 2012 9:50PM
Thornwood coach Paul Slavich could sense that Johnte Shannon was frustrated.
The senior guard was held scoreless by Andrew through three quarters.
Slavich offered a little pep talk prior to the start of the fourth quarter.
“I told him, ‘stay calm, you’re going to get your shot and you’re going to knock it down,’ “ Slavich recalled.
That’s precisely what Shannon did, nailing a game-winning three-pointer with 11.5 seconds left to give Thornwood a 57-55 victory over No. 9 Andrew in a SouthWest Suburban Red contest in Tinley Park.
The victory assured the Thunderbirds (19-6, 12-1) of at least a share of the Red Division crowd, their first since 2002. If Thornwood defeats Thornton Friday night, it wins conference outright.
“That’s the same thing people have been telling me growing up, to keep my head up and to not get down,” Shannon said. “We needed that shot.”
Darrell Combs missed a jumper and the long rebound landed in the hands of Robert Blissitt near the free-throw line. Blissitt hit Shannon with a pass near the left corner. The trey was Shannon’s only points on the night.
Combs didn’t miss many shots on the evening. The Loyola recruit finished 24 points, including eight straight during an 11-point second-quarter outburst.
Khapri Alston was a force inside, adding 13 points for Thornwood.
“I’ve been on the varsity four years and I’ve never had an experience like this,” Combs said. “I’m just so happy. We bonded, we clicked and we’re rolling.”
Jubril Adekoya did everything in his power to lead Andrew (21-2, 11-2) down victory lane, scoring 26 points and adding 10 rebounds. But his attempt at a game-tying shot in the final seconds was never realized, with Thornwood’s David Fuller stripping the junior before he could get off a shot.
Glorind Lisha contributed 10 points for Andrew, which was attempting to win its first ever conference title.
Andrew led 13-7 after one quarter, 28-26 at the half and 45-41 heading into the fourth. The Thunderbolts extended their lead to 51-45 on a Mike Bobek layup with 4:03 remaining. Combs, Alston and Justin Kennedy, however, led a charge that eventually saw Thornwood grab a 54-53 lead with 1:05 left to go.
Adekoya, though, converted from inside with 47.2 seconds remaining for a 55-54 advantage.
Moments later, Shannon would step up with the clutch shot.
“It was a great high school basketball game,” Andrew coach Mike O’Halloran said. “It was like a heavyweight fight. We just ran out of time.”
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