Mount Carmel handed St. Laurence a season-ending loss in the IHSA Class 3A sectional last season and another on Jan. 16 in overtime.
Markese Peoples wasn’t going to let the Caravan get another victory this go-around.
“I really had to get this one, especially against Mount Carmel, because last year we got knocked off by them,” Peoples said.
The Vikings defeated the Caravan 63-59 for their second straight IHSA regional title and first in Class 4A on Feb. 27 at Hinsdale Central.
Peoples paced the Vikings with a team-high 21 points and nine rebounds. He also had three assists and two steals.
The senior guard gives a lot of credit to his teammates as the reason he is able to do so much on the court.
“Having them opens up a lot for me,” Peoples said. “We have a lot of weapons — if any of us does not get going, someone is always stepping up and answering in that moment.”
Senior forward Jacob Johnson had 11 points, including key fourth-quarter baskets and five rebounds for St. Laurence. Sophomore Noah Corro added 14 points and had three assists.
Much like Peoples, St. Laurence coach Roshawn Russell is confident in the offensive abilities of his players.
“We have so many weapons,” Russell said. “I knew if we were able to get the rebound and secure the ball, I knew offensively we could figure it out.”
Mount Carmel junior Logan Wessel led the scoring with 25 points and grabbed five rebounds.
He and the Caravan were down as much as 14 points. But a strong second half got them within three points with three minutes to go before St. Laurence regrouped.
Mount Carmel coach Phil Segroves was encouraged to see his players not give up.
“St. Laurence is a very good team,” Segroves said. “They beat us in the season, we beat them in the playoffs. So it looks like we’re forming a pretty darn good basketball rivalry.
“But I’m really proud of those young guys for their perseverance, never giving up. They’re very positive and engaged during every timeout.”
Mount Carmel’s Da’Kylen Heard ended his breakout freshman season with a near double-double of nine points and 11 rebounds. Fellow freshman Ronald Johnson added 10 points and grabbed six rebounds.
“What they have learned about the game of basketball from November to now is incredible,” Segroves said. “And it’s not just about watching film, it’s about processing it on the floor, which I’ve seen from them.”
Getting a win over the Caravan was a big deal. But it’s on to the Mount Carmel Sectonal the Vikings go as they have bigger hopes and dreams. They were set to face Curie on March 3.
“Talent-wise, we can play with anybody,” Russell said. “We just have to come out and give it our best. And I’m confident that we’ll be ready.”
“We just gotta stay together. We stay together, nobody in the state would be able to beat us,” Johnson said.