Jan. 19--One untimely turnover could have derailed the most significant Fenwick victory during Mike Smith's time as a Friar.
Smith has learned his fair share of tricks in four varsity seasons, and he had another one up his sleeve.
The 5-foot-9 point guard faked a defender into the air, got to the line for his personal-best 36th, 37th and 38th points and allowed No. 4 Fenwick to hang on for a 71-68 victory over No. 3 Simeon in an MLK Day thriller Monday before an over-capacity crowd at Fenwick in Oak Park.
"It was a test of perseverance at the end," Fenwick coach Rick Malnati said. "All of a sudden it goes sideways, and Mike was terrific. Like they said about Michael Jordan, the only one to hold him under 20 was Dean Smith. I'm like that with Mike Smith. He was just absolutely fantastic. They couldn't stop him.
"This was just a great day for Fenwick, a great day for high school basketball. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, to have a game like this. You just can't beat it."
Playing its first nonconference, non-showcase game in the Chicago area since the Derrick Rose era, Simeon (14-3) found itself down 59-48 following a barrage of 3s and drives by Smith late in the late third and early fourth quarter.
Gonzaga recruit Zack Norvell (25 points) kept the Wolverines close most of the game, but Evan Gilyard (19 points) and Josh Thomas (14) combined for 19 fourth-quarter points to fuel the Wolverines comeback.
After Smith threw the ball away with Fenwick (15-2) protecting a 66-65 lead with 40 seconds left, Thomas gave Simeon its first lead since the first quarter.
Smith used his veteran wiles to set up his three decisive free throws.
He did not get a whistle under the same circumstances against Bogan at the Proviso West tournament in an eventual double-overtime victory, and Simeon coach Robert Smith felt the referees took the game out of the players' hands on both sides of the court.
Simeon missed an opportunity to tie from the line after Smith's free throws.
"I thought if we were going to lose, the game had to be on my shoulders," Mike Smith said. "I pump-faked, he jumped and the ref called it."
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
Player of the game: Mike Smith, Fenwick, 38 points, 5 3-pointers, 9-10 FTs.
Key performers: Simeon -- Zack Norvell, 25 points, 3 3-pointers; Evan Gilyard, 19 points. Fenwick -- Jamal Nixon, 10 points, 8 rebounds; Jacob Keller, 12 points.
