Boys Basketball: Sean O’Mara lifts Benet past Lockport

Updated: December 14, 2011 7:24PM

Sophomore Sean O’Mara displayed veteran poise as Benet survived a fourth quarter comeback by Lockport Wednesday evening for a 41-39 victory at the Plainfield North Holiday Round Robin.

The 6-foot-8 center scored 25 points, including nine of the Redwings’ 10 fourth-quarter points, and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Benet (6-1) opened the second half with a 24-13 lead and led by as many as 10 in the fourth quarter before Porters guard Courtney Cole (20 points) got hot.

The senior scored 12 points in the fourth, including three three-point field goals.

Cole tied the game 36-36 with 1:08 left in the game when he converted the second of a pair of free throws.

With 50 seconds remaining O’Mara put Benet ahead on a lay-up. On defense, he rebounded a miss by Lockport and was fouled. O’Mara, who was 7 of 8 from the free throw line, then converted both free throws.

“Sean played his best game,” said Benet coach Gene Heidkamp. “He played great at both ends of the floor, getting big rebounds and hitting his free throws.”

Following O’Mara’s free throws, Cole hit a three pointer to cut the Lockport deficit to 40-39 with 32 seconds left.

The Porters fouled Joe Schuessler with 30 seconds remaining and the guard split a pair of free throws.

Tom Hook then attempted a three pointer with time running out for Lockport. The shot was rebounded by Benet forward Griffin Hanekamp as time expired.

“Lockport is a good team,” O’Mara said. “They made us earn our win.”

The Porters (3-5) opened the game with a 5-0 run, but Benet responded with a 13-3 run to close out the quarter. Billy Reed contributed four points to a 7-0 run by Lockport to open the third quarter.

“The pressure bothered us,” Heidkamp said. “We did a good job of gutting out a win.”

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