Brad Johnson Jr.’s days at Curie are over, and he doesn’t regret any of them.
The senior had seven points, nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks as the Condors pushed Chicago-area top-ranked Kenwood to the brink before falling 69-65 on March 7 in the Class 4A Hinsdale Central Sectional final.
Two juniors who will be back next season led the way for Curie, which finished 24-10 in a season it began with no returning starters.
Justin Oliver, who emerged as one of the area’s premier guards this season, led the Condors with 20 points, four rebounds and four assists. Michael Oliver Jr. added 15 points.
Johnson helped provide senior leadership for a team that was getting used to playing together.
“It was a great experience,” he said of his four years at Curie. “I wouldn’t trade (anything) in the world for it.
“I’m just sad that this was the last game. But I’ve got to move forward and get better.”
The Condors led 25-24 at halftime before Kenwood rallied to go up 13 at 54-41 in the first minute of the fourth quarter. It looked like an insurmountable deficit against a team that had lost just once all season.
But it wasn’t.
Justin Oliver hit one of his three 3-pointers to get the Curie comeback started. He hit two more and Michael Oliver Jr. hit one of his five 3s down the stretch as the Condors pulled within 67-65 with 15 seconds remaining.
After Kenwood hit one of two free throws to make it 68-65 with 13.2 seconds left, Johnson had a good look at a 3-pointer with two seconds left but it missed. Another Kenwood free throw accounted for the final score.
“It shows that we never give up,” Johnson said of the late rally. “And we never stop fighting. I’m proud of our team. Nobody thought we’d be here in this situation, nobody thought we (were) going to make it to the city championship. I’m just happy, man.”
TJ Seals helped Kenwood hold off Curie, finishing with 26 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks.
Curie coach Mike Oliver was happy about his team’s effort.
“But we just didn’t do the little things that were necessary,” Mike Oliver said. “We didn’t keep TJ off the boards. He was like a man amongst boys out there. … Nobody wanted to challenge to try to box him out.
“Everybody did a good job, but he was the difference. … The kids left it all on the line, but I think we could have (done) a better job of rebounding the ball and (it would have) been a different outcome.”
Still, it was another in the string of successful seasons for Mike Oliver at Curie.
“We’re very proud of this group,” he said. “If you would have told us at the beginning of the year this group will be in the final 16 (in Class 4A), the city championship, we would have questioned it.
“But these kids worked hard all year. … We lost but we’re going to walk out of here with our head held high.”