There was a scary moment for DePaul Prep fans late in the first half of the Rams’ dominant 69-37 win against visiting Farragut in a Class 3A regional final on Friday.
All-Area guard TY Johnson was pulled down to the ground while attempting a fast break dunk. He writhed in pain for awhile as Rams coach Tommy Kleinschmidt argued that the Farragut player should be ejected. In the end it was only an intentional foul and Johnson recovered quickly enough to shoot the free throws.
“I was upset about it but I knew I had to shake it off and not let it get into my head,” Johnson said. “I continued to play my game.”
Other than that it was smooth sailing for Kleinschmidt’s talented young team, which is hoping to make a return trip to Peoria.
Johnson finished with 26 points and nine rebounds. He’s been one of the city’s breakout juniors this season.
The Rams (26-5) limited Farragut to just three baskets in the first half and the Admirals shot 8-for-49 in the game.
“We did a really nice job on [Farragut sophomore Mikqwon Jones],” Kleinschmidt said. “We keyed on him for a week. We know he is very good and we wanted to make sure he didn’t beat us around the rim.”
Brian Mathews made sure of that. DePaul Prep’s 6-10 junior owned the paint. He had 11 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.
“It was one of my best games defensively,” Mathews said. “I consider myself a shot blocker so I was just trying to do my job.”
“[Mathews] came in as a big kid but he was a puppy dog, all arms and legs,” Kleinschmidt said. “At the end of last year he started developing. He really came into his own and he continues to get better.”
Junior Rasheed Bello added 14 points and seven rebounds and senior Lance Mosley added eight points for the Rams.
“The guys that are playing now got beat up last year in practice,” Kleinschmidt said. “It’s made them better and they formed a bond and it is showing through the season.”
Farragut (14-9) was without Mikell Jones, Mikqwon’s brother.
“He got hurt about a week ago before practice,” Admirals coach William Nelson said. “So we didn’t have our most versatile player. His brother was out there trying to do what he could but we need all hands on deck.”
Farragut started the season with 11 players and finished with just eight.
“I had to put some guys off the team,” Nelson said. “I can’t take it. Guys have to do what they are supposed to do. So I came in with what I had. The guys I was relying on that didn’t come through had to move out of the way.”
Junior Malik Williams led the Admirals with 13 points and Jones finished with eight points and 10 rebounds.
DePaul Prep will face St. Ignatius in the St. Ignatius sectional on Wednesday with a possible matchup against Fenwick looming in the sectional final.
