Jan. 27--On Jan. 5, Devin Gage watched in street clothes as Curie relinquished a double-digit fourth-quarter lead and lost to Kenwood.
Nothing was going to keep Gage from playing in the Red Central rematch Tuesday, not even another ankle injury.
Gage sprained his left ankle in the final minutes, but pushed through the pain and sank three free throws in the final 35 seconds to give No. 6 Curie a 77-76 win at No. 4 Kenwood.
Gage made 1 of 2 free throws to provide Curie a 77-74 lead with 10.2 seconds remaining. Kenwood senior Nick Robinson took the ball the length of the court and scored a layup with 3.5 seconds left. Curie didn't inbound the ball and the clock expired.
Kenwood (15-2, 9-1) had already clinched the division title, but the Condors (16-4, 8-2) were still out to prove something.
"It was all bragging rights, man," said Gage, who scored a game-high 26 points. "We had to come out here and play hard."
Curie nearly blew another double-digit lead in the fourth quarter Tuesday. The Condors led 71-61 with 3:08 left, and Kenwood responded with a 13-5 run before Gage's final free throw.
Robinson scored the Broncos' final six points and finished with a team-high 25.
The teams combined for 22 3-pointers. Curie sophomore Landers Nolley made six 3s and scored 24 points off the bench. Kenwood senior Charlie Harlan had seven 3-pointers and 24 points.
Curie coach Mike Oliver missed the game as he served the second game of a two-game IHSA suspension. Assistant coach Larry Wallace filled in.
Scott Powers is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
Player of the game: Devin Gage, Curie, 25 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals.
Key performers: Curie -- Landers Nolley, 24 points, 6 3-pointers; Elijah Joiner, 10 points. Kenwood -- Nick Robinson, 25 points; Charlie Harlan, 24 points, 7 3-pointers; Zion Morgan, 10 points, 6 assists.
