Benet sophomore forward Edvardas Stasys practiced patience while waiting for his turn.
Then he played with aplomb when he got it in the Class 4A Benet Sectional championship game on Friday.
“Edvardas gave us a huge lift off the bench,” Benet coach Gene Heidkamp said. “He’s a defensive specialist for us. He’s so active on the glass. I thought he really did a good job of giving us a different look defensively.”
The 6-foot-7 Stasys contributed six points, four rebounds and four blocks while teaming with 7-0 junior center Colin Stack to lead the third-seeded Redwings to a 44-32 victory over fourth-seeded Downers Grove North on their home court in Lisle.
Stasys, who didn’t play at all during Benet’s semifinal win over Waubonsie Valley, was tasked with defending against the Trojans’ star forward, 6-6 senior Bobby Grganto.
“The focus was mainly guard No. 10,” Stasys said, referring to Grganto. “I wanted to get rebounds, play defense and play the short corner against the zone. That was our game plan coming into the game, and I think we executed it pretty well.”
Although Grganto, a Wisconsin-Stevens Point commit, led Downers Grove North with 13 points, six of those came late in the game, and he had only three rebounds. Stasys and Stack were so dominant inside that the Trojans scored just five 2-point baskets.
“Grganto is a tough cover,” Heidkamp said. “He shoots the three well. He’s so strong physically, and he plays so hard. So we knew he was going to be a handful for us, and I thought Ed did a good job of trying to slow him down.”
The Trojans usually pair methodical offense with dogged defense. But that strategy was foiled by the Redwings (30-5), who will play Alton (31-3) in the ISU Supersectional at CEFCU Arena in Normal at 7:30 p.m. Monday.
Benet junior guard Jayden Wright scored 11 of his game-high 16 points, including a trio of 3-pointers from NBA range, during an opening 15-6 run. Downers Grove North (26-9) pulled within 17-13 early in the second quarter but scored only one basket in the next 15 minutes as the Redwings stretched the lead to 32-16.
When Stasys wasn’t blocking shots and getting rebounds, he was starting Benet’s transition offense.
“Ed is one of the best defenders on our team,” Stack said. “He’s a very good rebounder, obviously, offensively and defensively, and he can guard all five if we need him to. He helps in gaps, he helps me rebound and push in transition. He’s just a great overall player.”
Which is why it was strange to see Stasys sitting on the bench against Waubonsie Valley. Heidkamp used only his five regular starters in that game, including senior guard Michael Doyle, who held star senior guard Tyreek Coleman to 11 points.
Downers Grove North presented a different matchup challenge, one that suited Stasys.
“That’s what we told him,” Heidkamp said. “Doyle was the matchup for Tyreek, and he did a really good job on Tyreek. Ed was the matchup for Grganto, and that’s part of being on a team.
“I tell these guys that different games call for different players, so they understand that. They’re ready when the time comes.”
The time came for Stasys on Friday. He was ready when the proverbial curtain went up and deserving of the ovation that came when the curtain went down.
“I know our team is full of great players,” he said. “Everyone can do their part, but when my name is called, I’m going to go out there and give it my all.
“He told me when my time comes, I’m going to have to perform, and I pretty much knew that today is going to be the day. So I was ready.”
While some players might be rusty after not playing in the previous game, Stasys motored up and down the court like a well-oiled sports car. Stack wasn’t surprised.
“Ed could be a starter,” Stack said. “We had it going on Wednesday, so we just kept going, and then today, his number was called, and he stepped up and answered.”
Stasys, a varsity rookie, did so in front of another sellout crowd, which witnessed the Redwings win their 11th sectional title and sixth during Heidkamp’s 17-year tenure.
“It was unreal,” Stasys said. “It was the craziest game I’ve ever played in my life.
“This crazy community — all of our friends, all of our classmates, all of the parents — showed up. It was a great environment to play in, and I’m ecstatic with the result.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
