PLANO – Top-seeded LaSalle-Peru lived up to its billing Tuesday, defeating fourth-seeded Newark, 62-56, in the first semifinal at the 53rd annual Plano Christmas Classic.
The Norsemen (11-2) will play for third place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday against the loser of Tuesday’s late semifinal between No. 6 Dixon and No. 2 Burlington Central. The championship will follow at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Behind nine points from Ryan Atilano, the Cavaliers (9-0) opened the game on a 17-5 run. Two baskets by Steve McGrath out of a timeout allowed the Norsemen (11-2) to close back within single digits, but they were able only to keep it in that range for the remainder of the half.
Newark needed a last-second Jack Clausel basket – his first points of the game – to end the first quarter within 21-13. It then went nearly 2:30 without scoring to begin the second half, a drought ended by two Clausel free throws. Newark began going inside to Clausel more late in the quarter, with the result a pair of short baskets, but was still down, 31-21, at halftime.
Twice Cameron Myre scored easy fast-break layups off of Newark steals, which combined with two free throws and a cutting layup from Evan Schomer, allowed the Norsemen to get within 33-29.
But Atilano answered with a quick layup turned conventional 3-point play the other way. He had another quick layup after Will Clausel scored on the other end as the Cavaliers closed the third on a 12-4 lead to restore their lead to 12 points.
L-P held a lead as large as 50-35 and a lead of 11 points as late as the 2:24 mark of the fourth quarter before Newark ground down its deficit the rest of the way.
A real glimmer of hope appeared when Will Clausel made three free throws to make it a 57-51 game with 58 seconds showing, but three late free throws from Austin Prybylinski helped L-P hold on.
Jack Clausel scored 15 points for Newark. Will Clausel scored 10 points in the final two minutes alone as part of his 14 parts.
The loss ensures that Newark will remain tied with Seneca for the most all-time Classic championships with four. Newark last won the tournament in 1992 and was last in the championship in 2010, when it finished second to Rockford Christian.