Lincoln-Way Central’s Kevin Barrett felt honored with how the ball came to him late.
The senior guard also discovered an unorthodox path to victory that illustrated his subtle impact.
“They stopped our first go of what we were trying to do, so we adjusted,” Barrett said, recalling the final moments Tuesday night. “I got the ball from there — I was just trying to make a play.
“The big thing was just making sure to leave enough time on the clock to get an offensive board.”
Barrett pushed a 16-footer slightly wide, but senior forward Korey Cagnolatti converted a putback as time expired for a 44-42 SouthWest Suburban Conference win over Lincoln-Way East.
Cagnolatti finished with 12 points and five rebounds for the Knights (6-3, 3-2) in New Lenox. Junior forward Lucas Andresen added 15 points.
Junior guard Jaymon Hornsby scored all eight of his points in the last three minutes for the Griffins (5-3, 2-2). His layup with 43 seconds remaining created the final tie at 42-42.
Senior guard Will Buchanan hit four 3-pointers in leading Lincoln-Way East with 14 points.
Barrett, meanwhile, finished with an all-around effort of four points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. His 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter put the Knights up by five points.
“I just felt so composed with the ball in my hands at that moment,” Barrett said. “My goal was just to get to the basket. In a way, it was a negative play, missing the shot, but Corey was right there.
“He collected it perfectly. It shows how we play off each other.”
Barrett, a two-year starter, was named captain for this season, indicative of the trust and confidence others put in his leadership and feel for the game.
“With the time running down at the end of the game, I trust Kevin to take the last shot,” Cagnolatti said. “Kevin is a sharpshooter. Whenever we need a big-time play, he makes the shots.”
Senior forward Logan Baechtold said Barrett has the savvy and intangibles to influence any game, not just the stats.
“When he’s out there getting hot or just doing what he does, it gets the whole team going,” Baechtold said. “He’s the guy we always want to go to at the end of the game.
“Even though he wasn’t the guy who scored, he created the opportunity for Corey to finish.”
Unlocking the mental challenge is a big part of the equation for Barrett. Even though basketball has been the driving force of his young life, he took up golf a couple of years ago,
He improved rapidly and was the No. 4 player last fall for the Knights. As far apart as the two sports are, he found a necessary connection.
“Golf is mentally the toughest sport I’ve ever played,” he said. “It can kick you down, but that really helps me when it comes to these end of the game moments, staying composed and trying to make good plays.”
He’s also the youngest from an intense sports family marked by achievement. His father, also named Kevin, was a basketball standout at Sandburg. His mother, Karen, played basketball and softball at Oak Lawn.
His two older brothers, Joe and Jack Barrett, preceded him as starting guards for Lincoln-Way Central.
While his natural personality is built off his sense of humor and outgoing personality, he discovered from his older brothers the seriousness of practicing your craft.
“My middle brother, Jack, is two years older, and we played together my sophomore year,” Kevin Barrett said. “It was great because he came after me every day in practice. He wanted me to get better.
“I can’t help but thank him for that. He made me the player I am.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
