Mac Doyle was in second grade when he first set foot in Illinois State’s CEFCU Arena in Normal in 2015.
Mac Doyle watched his cousin Kathleen lead the Benet girls basketball team to its first state title. A year later, both were back as the Redwings repeated.
“The only thing I remember is the student section and imagining one day I wanted to be in that student section because that’s how awesome it was,” Mac Doyle said. “I just remember the atmosphere here, and of course I remember Kathleen.”
Mac Doyle was back at CEFCU Arena on Monday, but he wasn’t in the student section. The senior guard was in the starting lineup for the Benet boys basketball team and contributed four points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal in its 58-50 win against Quincy in the Class 4A ISU Supersectional.
Among those in attendance were Kathleen Doyle, who is director of recruiting and player personnel for the Virginia Tech women’s basketball team, and former Benet great and NBA player Frank Kaminsky.
Also present was Mac Doyle’s mother Cara, who two days earlier had coached the St. Ignatius girls basketball team in the Class 3A state championship game at CEFCU Arena. The Wolfpack lost to Montini 50-44 but won its first state trophy.
“We had a huge support section of Doyles,” Mac Doyle said. “There’s so many of us. We’re all from Benet. We all support each other. You couldn’t ask for anything else.”
Playing on the same court as Kathleen Doyle’s greatest high school achievement was surreal for him.
“It was such a great opportunity,” Mac Doyle said. “It is an awesome environment.
“We had so many fans come out, so grateful for them, and we’ve been playing the big games all year. Not as big as this one, but we’ve been playing against some top teams across the state all year, so our coaches really prepared us for this.”
Mac Doyle had long prepared for this moment with the Redwings (31-5), who will play Evanston (30-5) at the State Farm Center in Champaign at 6 p.m. Friday in their second appearance in the state semifinals in three years. He is the unlikeliest of starters, having seen no playing time as a junior.
“Mac has earned everything he’s gotten,” Benet coach Gene Heidkamp said. “Nothing has come easy for him.
“He’s a great leader. He’s a great teammate. He’s a really good basketball player. I’ve coached for 32 years, and there’s not many finer people that I’ve been around than Mac Doyle. He’s that good of a person.”
Mac Doyle plays a vital if overlooked role.
“I can’t even express it,” Benet junior guard Jayden Wright said. “He’s huge. We wouldn’t even be close to the team we are without him. He might not score, but he brings everything else. He’s a very valuable asset.”
Mac Doyle’s contributions come mainly on defense.
“He does all the work no one else wants to do,” Benet senior guard Blake Fagbemi said. “He’s on the best player every night, and that leads to much of our team’s success.”
Benet twice held Quincy scoreless for more than five minutes. Mac Doyle hit his only shot — a 3-pointer — to give Benet an 8-0 lead, but he focused mainly on defending.
“I really figured out that defensively is somewhere I can get on the court on a team full of offensive talent,” he said. “I’m just really grateful for the opportunity.
“I think that Benet more than anything is great at player development, especially with guys that are not getting a lot of run. We have a ton of JV games. We have a bunch of coaches on staff that are awesome, and so that really provided me with the opportunity I needed to develop my game.”
It is a game perfectly suited to Benet’s needs. While Fagbemi and Wright handle a lot of the scoring, Mac Doyle elevates the role of the unsung role player to new heights.
“He’s like everything you could ever want,” Wright said. “He’s selfless. He’ll do anything to help the team. He’s just put in a lot of work, and it’s finally starting to show off. I’m so proud of him. I just love him.”
The Redwings’ final two games will be played at the State Farm Center, where Kathleen Doyle made three appearances for Iowa. So Mac Doyle gets to follow in her footsteps once again.
“I’m just excited for the whole experience,” he said. “I’m trying to make the most out of every moment.
“I know the teams down there are going to be great, but I think we’ve got a pretty good team too.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
