Brock Harding's Hot Start Lifts Maroons Past Trojans; Advance to 4A Title Game Against Benet

Friday was the day for the 3A and 4A games for a chance to advance to the State Championships on Saturday. The second 4A semifinal game was between Moline and Downers Grove North.

In the Supersectionals, the Maroons beat a talented Oswego East team 59-55. The Trojans got through Whitney Young and Hinsdale Central in the Sectional, and blewout Kenwood in the Supersectional.

Last season the Maroons and Trojans lost to teams that they would get their revenge on this season. Moline lost in the Sectional Semifinal to Normal 61-44, but beat them this year 68-51. Downers Grove North lost to Whitney Young in the Regional Final 59-40, but were able to squeak past them in the Sectional Semifinal 44-41 this year.

Maroons 6-0 point guard Brock Harding set the tone early. He scored 11 of Moline's first 13 points in the first 4-plus minutes of the game. In that stretch, Harding, one of two Iowa commits, was 4/4 from the field, including 3/3 from three.

The other Iowa commit, 6-10 Owen Freeman didn't have it quite as easy. The Trojans defense did a great job containing him for most of the game, but Freeman (9 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks) was fouled on 4 shot attempts and hit 7 of 8 free throws.

The Trojans hung around as the Maroons offense stalled throughout the third quarter and deep into the fourth. The Trojans got a lift from 6-7 junior Jake Riemer who hit a three to cut the Maroons lead to 5 with 3:47 left in the third.

In the fourth quarter, the Maroons ran down nearly five minutes of clock. Things did pick up again for the final 3 and a half minutes, which eventually saw Moline pull away late winning 50-36. The Maroons ended the game on a 7-0 run.

Brock Harding led the Maroons with 21 points and 6 rebounds. He finished 3/4 from three and 8/9 at the line. 6-3 Senior Grant Welch, and 6-5 sophomore Treyvon Taylor each had 7 points. Welch scored all his points shooting 7/8 at the line, and Taylor grabbed 6 rebounds. 6-1 senior Jasper Ogburn had 6 points for the Maroons.

Junior guard Jack Stanton led the Trojans with 19 points. Seniors Max Haack and 6-7 George Wolkow (4 rebounds) each had 6 points.