St. Rita’s Morez Johnson spent part of his Thursday evening watching Illinois, his future group, play Northwestern.

The junior ahead determined to crack the books open after the Illini sputtered within the first half and scored simply 19 factors. He wasn’t giving up — he simply needed to get his homework executed.

Illinois then made an enormous comeback. And Johnson did get to observe the ending.

“I assumed they’d come again,” he mentioned. “I place confidence in my boys.”

He additionally has religion in his Mustangs.

Behind Johnson’s double-double, St. Rita gained its ninth straight with a 71-41 victory Friday evening over Homewood-Flossmoor within the Class 4A Stagg Regional championship recreation.

It was the ninth regional title for St. Rita (23-10). The third-seeded Mustangs will face second-seeded Brother Rice (29-4), a Catholic League Blue rival, at 7 p.m. Wednesday in a sectional hosted by the Mustangs.

In a Dec. 9 street recreation, St. Rita beat Brother Rice 57-51.

“I really like the best way now we have come collectively and we’re jelling proper now,” Johnson mentioned. “Our objective is to get to Champaign and win the state title.”

The 6-foot-9 Johnson had 23 factors and 11 rebounds, plus 5 dunks, 4 blocked pictures and two steals. James Brown added 13 factors. Iowa State commit Nojus Industraitis contributed 10 factors and 5 steals.

Nashawn Holmes, who transferred from H-F within the offseason, scored 9 factors in opposition to his former group. Sophomore guard Jayden Tyler led the Vikings (18-14) with 10 factors.

One of many issues Johnson has been happy with through the Mustangs’ profitable streak? The best way the group has been enjoying protection.

“Our protection is enjoying higher than our offense proper now,” Johnson mentioned. “Everyone is speaking and everyone seems to be feeding off one another.”

Since a 90-70 loss to Florida powerhouse Montverde, which was ranked third within the nation on the time, the Mustangs have allowed lower than 50 factors in seven of 10 video games.

“We simply wish to velocity the sport up,” St. Rita coach Roshawn Russell mentioned. “We all know our benefit is moving into transition. Now we have numerous athletes which can be nice within the open court docket, so our objective is to create numerous our offense off our protection.”

The Mustangs, certainly, had a few sturdy bursts from Brown, a North Carolina recruit, and Holmes.

Brown ended the primary quarter with two dunks, a blocked shot and a steal within the remaining 24 seconds to assist put the Mustangs forward 25-10.

Holmes shot simply 1 of seven within the first half however was in a position to flip a steal right into a dunk and in addition added a 3-pointer within the third quarter.

“It was enjoyable,” Holmes mentioned of dealing with the Vikings. “They have been speaking so much. As soon as I noticed they have been in the identical regional with us, I knew we have been going to play them.

“Within the second half, I used to be trusting my teammates and letting the sport come to me.”

Johnson mentioned that earlier within the season, when the Mustangs have been enjoying powerful, nationwide competitors and the losses have been mounting, the group stayed constructive.

“We by no means put our heads down,” Johnson mentioned. “We knew what the objective was. These video games have been serving to prepare for what we’re doing proper now.

“We would have liked to get our legs beneath us and be taught from one another and be taught to play as a group.”

In the best way, Johnson continues to be a pressure in a number of areas.

“He’s elevated his recreation all the season,” Russell mentioned. “He’s been constant evening in and evening out. I can’t ask for something extra from him.

“He’s been superior.”

Jeff Vorva is a contract reporter for the Day by day Southtown.