Junior guard Malik Holton got his opportunity to start several games for Thornton earlier in the season when his teammate, Chase Abraham, was out with an injury.
After Abraham returned, Holton went to the bench and his playing time took a big hit. But he has not lost faith in his ability to help the Wildcats, especially with his 3-point shot.
“I’m a good shooter,” Holton said. “I feel like whenever my teammates get me the ball, I can put it in the air and it might fall. That’s just my confidence. I feel like it’s going to go in 100% of the time.
“My teammates trust me to make shots, and I just shoot them.”
Holton provided a big boost off the bench early, scoring eight points in less than two minutes Friday night. That set the tone for the host Wildcats, who held off Brother Rice’s comeback for a 61-54 victory in the Class 3A Thornton Sectional championship game.
Illinois recruit Morez Johnson and Abraham each scored 17 points to lead Thornton (29-4), which won its first sectional title since 2009. Johnson added eight rebounds, while Holton and Isaiah Green chipped in with eight points apiece.
The Wildcats will play at 7 p.m. Monday in the Ottawa Supersectional against Peoria Richwoods (28-4), which upset defending Class 3A state champion Metamora 61-55.
Thornton beat Richwoods 67-65 on Nov. 24 at the Rockford Boylan Thanksgiving Tournament.
Marcos Gonzales finished with 17 points and seven rebounds to lead Brother Rice (31-4). Lewis recruit Cale Cosme scored 14 points, Zavier Fitch added nine points and 11 rebounds and Caden Workman contributed eight points.
Holton had his moment to shine in the first quarter after Meyoh Swansey went to the bench for the Wildcats with two early fouls.
Holton quickly hit a 3-pointer, scored off a rebound and buried another 3-pointer — all in a span of 95 seconds — to give Thornton a 19-8 lead.
“That’s our guy,” Swansey said of Holton. “That’s like our X-factor. I love him to death. He makes big plays. He always comes through. When I went out, I just knew. I trusted him.
“That’s what practices are for. He hits those threes in practice, and my trust has gone higher and higher for that guy.”
Holton has stayed ready for his opportunity.
“I just know my role on this team,” he said. “We have a lot of seniors and a lot of talent. I’m going to fit in where I fit in and just play my role.”
Holton’s 3-pointers were two of the five converted by Thornton in the opening five minutes. The fast start enabled the Wildcats to take a 32-22 lead into halftime.
Brother Rice came storming back, however, forcing a 39-39 tie in the final minute of the third quarter.
The Crusaders had all the momentum until Swansey, after spending most of the first half on the bench in foul trouble, hit a 3-pointer with five seconds left in the third quarter and another to start the fourth.
That gave Thornton a six-point lead and got the Wildcats’ portion of the sold-out crowd going wild.
“I just feel like as soon as I hit those two threes, the gym just uplifted,” Swansey said. “Everything went crazy, everything went our way. I feel like I set the momentum.
“I didn’t play like that in the first half, but I came through in the second half.”
Johnson scored 14 points in the second half to help the Wildcats seal the win.
“It means a lot to come back home and represent your hometown and get the sectional win,” Johnson said. “We haven’t been downstate since 2009, and this is the year to change it.
“We have to stick together and keep doing what we’ve been doing.”
