Jalen Brunson, Stevenson win Class 4A state title

PEORIA — Five years ago in Lincolnshire two eighth-graders named Jalen Brunson and Connor Cashaw became friends. That simple, everyday occurrence eventually led to a couple thousand Stevenson students jumping and screaming and yelling Saturday at Carver Arena, celebrating the first basketball state championship in Lake County history.

Brunson was planning on attending Loyola for high school. He’d taken the entrance exam and was ready to go. But the draw of playing basketball and the bond he developed with Cashaw and some other friends pulled him to Stevenson.

“We just had a connection as soon as we met,” Cashaw said. “It’s funny because we started talking about a state championship and then the goal just got closer and we kept working harder and harder. I’m so proud of him and all of us.”

Take Brunson and Cashaw, add coach Pat Ambrose and a talented band of role players including shooters, charge-takers, defenders and sophomore Justin Smith and history was made.

Lake County teams had been knocking on the doors in Peoria for years. Jereme Richmond and Waukegan came close. So did Aaron Simpson and North Chicago. Lenzelle Smith and Zion-Benton had a shot. Stevenson lost in the title game in 2013 and the semifinals in 2014. Those Patriot losses came at the hands of Simeon’s Jabari Parker and Young’s Jahlil Okafor.

This time Brunson was the best player on the floor. He scored 30 to lead the Patriots to a 57-40 win over Normal. That’s a new record-high for the Class 4A title game.

Brunson was in tears immediately afterwards, hugging teammates and classmates. Relief or joy?

“It’s a lot of both,” Brunson said. “I’ve wanted this so badly for so long.”

The game was ugly at times, with both teams suffering through long scoreless bouts. There were several moments where Brunson was outscoring the Ironmen all by himself.

“It was a rough game,” Brunson said. “But I don’t care. We missed a lot of easy shots, so did they. It doesn’t matter to me at all. All that matters is we won. I don’t care at all how we won. We won.”

Stevenson led 25-19 at the half, but there was cause for concern in Lincolnshire. Brunson had scored 15 of the team’s points. The Patriots are usually at their best when players other then Brunson are also stepping up to score.

Then the second half began with a two minute scoring drought for both teams. Smith scored with 7:17 to play in the third quarter to give the Patriots (30-2) some relief. They finally pulled away with 3:12 to play in the third quarter. Brunson made two free-throws, converted a fast break layup and then drained a three, a 7-0 burst. Stevenson led 34-21 and never looked back.

Smith finished with 12 points and seven rebounds. Cashaw and Matt Johnson each scored six.

Tyler Seibring led Normal (33-2) with 12 points and Alex Peacock added 8.