DePaul Prep tops Richwoods in Illinois Class 3A boys basketball semifinals
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS — The DePaul Prep Rams are back in the championship game.
Coach Tom Kleinschmidt's squad won the Illinois Class 2A championship a year ago and will play for a 3A title on Saturday after defeating Peoria Richwoods 52-41 in the semifinals on Friday at State Farm Center.
"I think the experience helped us a little bit," Kleinschmidt said. "You can tell kids all you want or coach them all you want in the locker room but when you get on the floor the game starts moving. Experience usually comes right after you need it. We had it. So I think it really helped us."
Junior point guard Makai Kvamme had 15 points, six assists and three steals and senior guard PJ Chambers added 15 points and two steals for DePaul Prep (34-2). Sophomore forward Rashaun Porter added 10 points and a team-high six rebounds.
The Rams shot 62.5 percent from the field (20-32) and 66.7 percent from 3-point range (2-3). In the second half they shot 70.5 percent (12-17) from the field to help expand on a 20-14 halftime lead.
Lathan Sommerville, the 6-foot-10 standout senior headed to Rutgers, led Richwoods (29-5) with 18 points and three blocked shots. Senior guard DaQuan Little scored 10 points.
DePaul Prep will now play fellow Chicago Catholic League school Mount Carmel (32-5) in the Class 3A championship game at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Mount Carmel defeated Mt. Zion 65-49 in the earlier semifinal on Friday.
"It's fun," Kleinschmidt said. "The Catholic League is in the championship. We hear a lot about the Catholic League. ... We have a tough league and it's going to be fun to play them. We know those guys. We know the coaches. They know what we're going to do. We know what they are going to do. It's going to be a fun game. I'm glad we're playing a Catholic League team."
DePaul defeated Mount Carmel 41-38 back on February 12.
Illinois Class 3A boys basketball semifinal: DePaul Prep - Richwoods
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- Nate Latsch | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveIL
