HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL—In a game that came down to the final seconds, Theo Rocca found himself at the free-throw line on two separate occasions with a chance to seal the Kits’ super-sectional victory over Glenbard West.
The senior went 4-for-4 from the line in some of the biggest moments of his career, delivering what proved to be the dagger for the Kits.
“I was just thinking about all the early mornings I’ve put in shooting free throws—all the time I’ve sacrificed,” said Rocca.
Seconds later, the buzzer sounded inside NOW Arena, and the 47-43 win meant the Kits were heading to Champaign, Illinois, for the first time in six years. Evanston fans, who traveled upwards of 30 miles to the game, erupted in celebration as the team survived again and became one of the final four remaining in the state.
Evanston battled throughout the game, overcoming multiple Glenbard West leads. The Hilltoppers came out strong, jumping to a 13-7 advantage, which ended up being their largest lead of the game. Glenbard dominated the boards and was the tougher team on both ends of the floor early on. 
Glenbard’s zone defense also caused problems for the Kits early in the game. The Hilltoppers’ 1-3-1 defense disrupted Evanston’s ability to drive and kick out to perimeter shooters—a staple of their offense.
“For our guys to come out and not play well to start but not panic says a lot about their experience and will to win,” said Head Coach Mike Ellis.
The Kits’ offense found its rhythm when Jayden Rodriguez came off the bench and hit Evanston’s first three-pointer of the night. Another three from Rodriguez, along with one from Rocca, helped the Kits begin to break down the zone defense that had troubled them early on.
“Those threes in the first half helped a ton. It made them respect us more on the perimeter, which opened up driving lanes for us,” said Rocca.
As the offense found its footing, Evanston’s defense also stepped up in the second quarter, a key identity for this team all season. Even in games when the offense has struggled, the defense has consistently kept the Kits in the game and has even won them several games. Monday night was no exception.
“I don’t think our defense gets enough credit,” said Ellis.
Bench production played a crucial role in helping ETHS claw back into the game in the second quarter. Junior guard Timi Ogusanya rose to the occasion, providing solid minutes with strong perimeter defense and a driving layup that put Evanston up 22-20, energizing the team at a pivotal moment in the game. Freshman Ben Ojala also nailed a three-pointer in the quarter, helping ETHS take a 25-22 lead into halftime.
Glenbard’s Josh Abushanab, who led his team with 14 points, got going in the third quarter, giving the Hilltoppers a 35-33 edge heading into the final period.
Unsurprisingly, the Kits’ defense came alive again in the fourth quarter. With eight minutes left in the game—and potentially their season—Evanston left everything on the floor. They held Glenbard to just three field goals, eight points, and a dismal 27.2% shooting from the field in the final frame.
“The first four minutes of the fourth quarter, our guys stepped up big time on defense. I don’t know how many stops they got in a row, but it felt like they got stops on seven out of eight [Glenbard possessions],” said Ellis. “We really set the tone to finish strong.”
And with their season on the line, the Kits did just that. Scoring 14 points in the quarter—their best quarter of the game—Evanston closed out the victory in front of an electric NOW Arena crowd.
Rocca finished with a game-high 17 points, Ojala added eight, while Richardson and Rodriguez each contributed six. Chatham chipped in seven points but also had a game-high nine rebounds and four assists. While the scoring came from various sources, it was Evanston’s defense that ultimately propelled them to victory on Monday night.
After the postgame celebrations, Ellis reflected on the journey from the start of the season, following their disappointing first-round exit last year.
“From the first game on, I don’t know if people thought this team could compete the way they did. The thing that’s hidden in all of this is that this team plays for each other,” said Ellis, reflecting on what may be his best head coaching performance during his time at Evanston. 
Evanston will face Benet (31-5) in the State Farm Center on Friday night in the semifinals. The Kits defeated Benet 59-55 earlier this year on a neutral court, but the Redwings haven’t lost since and are riding a ten-game win streak into the matchup.
There’s been a palpable energy inside the ETHS hallways since the Kits secured their ticket to state, and all of Evanston is ready to see this team compete for a state championship this weekend.
