Justin Oliver has done just about everything for Curie the past few seasons, helping the Condors to multiple Public League title games and deep playoff runs.
But there’s one thing the senior guard hadn’t done until Dec. 22.
“My first-ever game-winner,” Oliver said after twisting his way through traffic to score with two seconds left, giving Curie a hard-fought 42-40 win over St. Ignatius in the Public League’s Merry Madness Holiday Shootout at Young.
Oliver had 14 points in the Condors’ final tuneup for the Pontiac Holiday Tournament, where they are seeded second behind three-time defending state champ DePaul Prep.
Kendall Holliday, playing with a bandage above his left eye after taking a hit to the face while guarding Yale recruit Chris Bolte early in the game, had 11 points, nine rebounds and two blocks for Curie.
“They gave me the ball,” Oliver said of the final sequence. “They said if help came, make the right play.
“I think I made an (all-right) play. I was a little bit selfish on that play, but it went in.”
Curie, which missed 20 of 21 shots from 3-point range, trailed 40-32 with 3:18 remaining. Oliver knew it was time to step up.
“It was just like, if we don’t score right here, it’s probably not gonna end in a win,” Oliver said. “So I just started taking over. After the lob that Kendall hit, we started going a little more.”
Saquan Commings’ rebound basket pulled the Condors even at 40-all with 47.4 seconds left. After Oliver gave Curie the lead, Holliday stole the inbound pass to seal the win.
“My mindset was I had to get my team started (in) any way possible,” Holliday said of the Condors’ early struggles. “I just had to get my team activated and started.”
How did he get the cut above his eye?
“Hard work,” he said. “That’s exactly what happened, hard work.
“When you’re working hard and you a dog, you gonna get war scars. It just is what it is and I’m living with it.”
After getting the cut, Holliday said, “I just went all beast mode because I (saw) red after that. I just went to go get every rebound … every bucket that was mine.”
Curie coach Mike Oliver was glad to emerge with a win against a high-level opponent.
“That team is an awesome team that’s well-coached, got one of the best players in the city (and the) state with (Bolte). And (the) young guards (are) growing up overnight.
“We just played defense the last three, four possessions. We just played hard, got a turnover, a good block by Holliday that really saved the game because if they score that one it’s probably over.”
Holliday’s effort was no surprise.
“He’s our Energizer bunny,” Mike Oliver said. “He does all the dirty work for us around the basket.”
And Justin Oliver hits the shots the Condors need.
“Just give us a chance with Justin to win the game and I’ll take it against anybody in the state,” Mike Oliver said.