Deerfield's Champaign dreams come true in supersectional win against St. Francis

An awful lot has to go right for a basketball team to advance to the IHSA state finals. Since Deerfield opened in 1959, those circumstances have never clicked.

This season’s team knew a run to Champaign in Class 3A was possible back in November. On Monday at NOW Arena, senior star Jake Pollack and his teammates turned the dream into reality by knocking off St. Francis 51-36 in the supersectional.

“The first time in history,” Pollack said. “To be able to do this for our town, with all the fans here is so special.”

Deerfield’s quest for Champaign took on a different form this month. It went from one team’s dream to one town’s dream. Over the past few weeks Pollack and his teammates watched as their school, and then their community started to believe and embrace high school basketball.

“The whole community in these last two weeks has been like nothing I’ve ever seen before," Pollack said. "Everyone has been so active and so together.”

Warriors coach Dan McKendrick said several Deerfield restaurants signed up for NFHS, the streaming service that carries the high school playoffs.

“People want to go and get dinner and watch the game,” McKendrick said.

The Warriors will face undefeated Kaneland in the Class 3A semifinals on Friday at State Farm Center.

Deerfield (24-11) jumped out to an 18-5 lead on Monday and then nearly gave it all away by scoring just two points in the second quarter.

Senior guard Evan Nagler finished with 20 points, three rebounds and two blocks. His aggressive third quarter helped the Warriors take a 35-23 lead after three quarters. St. Francis (17-15) never challenged again.

Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

Pollack, a 6-9 Dartmouth recruit, contributed 11 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and three steals. He scored seven in the first quarter before facing intense defense from Ben Whorlow, a 6-8 St. Francis junior.

“It’s really been a point to me that I need to set the tone for our team by going to the rim and being super aggressive from the jump,” Pollack said. “When we come out and punch a team in the mouth like that it is really hard to battle back and play from behind the whole game.”

Sophomore Charlie Yellen scored six for Deerfield and junior Tommy Donahue added five points.

“[Pollack] is the big brother,” McKendrick said. “The team feeds off his poise. He gets fouled more than anyone I’ve coached. He keeps his head and he keeps going and he keeps trying. He has done a really good job of being unselfish and allowing other kids to step up in big moments.”

Senior Carter Clark led St. Francis with 10 points and six rebounds. Johnny Shannon added six points and Dylan Liner finished with six points and five rebounds.

The Spartans took their lumps this season, finishing 1-7 in the rugged Catholic League Blue. They started the season 6-10 and then advanced to a supersectional.

“The character they have will help them the rest of their lives,” Spartans coach Erin Dwyer said. “Every guy made individual adjustments this season to make us a better team. As a high school coach you can’t ask for more.”