McMahon leads Spartans to title
The senior standout did not disappoint, propelling the seventh-seeded Spartans to a shocking 74-65 victory Friday against second-seeded and perennial power St. Joseph in the IHSA Class 3A St. Francis Regional championship game.
The win gives the Spartans (18-9) their first regional title since 1999. St. Francis advances to play Chicago Crane at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Riverside-Brookfield Sectional semifinals.
“It is great to put our team in the history books of St. Francis with this regional,” McMahon said.
The game looked like a mismatch early when St. Joseph grabbed a 4-0 lead in the first 30 seconds, prompting a timeout from the Spartans.
St. Francis responded with an 8-0 run. In the middle of the scoring burst came the first of four three-pointers from Dan McCoy (18 points) to give the Spartans a lead they never would relinquish.
“We came out confident,” McCoy said. “Nobody gave us a chance in this game, so coach told us we had nothing to lose being the seventh seed.”
The Spartans built a 38-25 halftime lead, but St. Francis knew it wasn’t in the clear against a Chargers team that came back from an 18-point deficit Feb. 22 against St. Patrick to win its conference title.
“We didn’t want the half to end with how well we were playing,” Spartans coach Shawn Healy said. “Plus, we knew St. Joseph was going to make a run in the second half.”
But the heroics of senior Bob Vonderhaar ended any hopes of a Chargers comeback. After being held scoreless in the first half, Vonderhaar scored 15 second-half points.
“I was tentative and picked up fouls in the first half,” Vonderhaar said. “In the second half, I looked for more back screens for easy baskets.”
Sophomore standout DeAndre McCamey finished with a team-high 20 points for the Chargers (21-7).
“[We] didn’t practice well this week, but you have to give [St. Francis] credit,” legendary St. Joseph coach Gene Pingatore said.
McMahon, meanwhile, finished with a game-high 22 points.
“I don’t care who we are playing [in sectionals],” Healy said. “If I have Brian [McMahon], we have a chance.”