March 12--PEORIA -- Leo small forward Jamil Green knows his coach puts him on the floor to provide energy and defense, but the senior averaging fewer than two points and rebounds per game made Leo's biggest play of the season to put the Lions within a win of a state championship.
Green played his role to perfection at the most opportune time in Friday's Class 1A state semifinal against Woodlawn (Ill.). His 3-foot putback off a Darias Oliver airball beat the buzzer and lifted Leo to a 46-45 victory.
"My role was to play defense and crash the boards, and help with dribbling and easy layups," Green said. "I play at the end of games, when we go with a small (lineup) or do a offense or defense switch."
Leo (24-8) advances to Saturday's 2 p.m. title game against LeRoy (27-5), which defeated Liberty 48-32 in the first semifinal. The Lions are seeking their second state title after capturing a Class A championship in 2004.
Darius Branch scored a team-high 18 points, and Oliver added 12 points, 17 rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots for the Lions.
Green's numbers weren't as flashy, but his two points will forever be remembered at Leo.
Green, a 6-foot-1 reserve, attempted just one other shot and was scoreless until his winning basket. He missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw with 3 minutes, 5 seconds to play.
"I thought I had cost us the game after they made a comeback," he said.
Green said Leo coach Shawn Frison had ingrained in his head what to do in that game-ending situation.
"My coach always told me to crash the weak side," he said. "I knew (Oliver's) shot was going long, but I thought I missed it at first and thought I put too much on it. I'm just glad I did my job."
It was fitting that the Lions advanced to their second state title game in program history by scoring on a putback basket. Leo dominated the boards all game, outrebounding the Cardinals 15-4 on the offensive glass and tallying a 14-2 advantage in second-chance points.
"Our boys stuck to our game plan, even to the very last play when we crashed the weak-side boards," Frison said.
The Cardinals (29-4) nearly pulled off a stunning comeback. The Lions led 40-33 with 3:51 to play before the Cardinals' trapping pressure forced three late turnovers. Senior guard Ross Owens (18 points) made a corner 3-pointer to give Woodlawn a 45-44 lead with 26 seconds left.
"It was a big shot," Owens said of his 3, "but it doesn't mean anything now."
Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
Player of the game: Jamil Green, Leo, 2 points, 5 rebounds, winning shot.
Key performers: Leo -- Darias Oliver, 12 points, 17 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 blocks; Darius Branch, 18 points. Woodlawn -- Ross Owens, 18 points, 9 rebounds, 4 3-pointers.
Saturday's 1A schedule
Third place: Woodlawn, Ill. (29-4) vs. Liberty (29-5), 12:15 p.m.
Final: Leo (24-8) vs. LeRoy (27-5), 2 p.m.
