By Bobby Narang
Champaign – The Benet Academy High School boys basketball team is finally on top of the mountain.
Since Gene Heidkamp took over the program, after a three-year run at Nazareth Academy, in 2008-2009, the Benet Redhawks turned into one of the best programs in the state.
After the Redhawks posted a 12-15 record in his first season, the Redwings had records of 26-4 and 29-1 in the next two seasons. Benet recorded 11 straight 20-victory seasons until a 10-4 record in 2021-2022. Since then, Benet had records of 25-8, 34-1, 27-7, and 31-5, but had not won a State championship, finishing in second place three times, including in 2023.
But on the night of Saturday, March 15 at the State Farm Center on the campus of the University of Illinois, Benet captured the program’s first State championship in a thrilling 55-54 victory over Warren in the Class 4A State final. The program’s first State title was also win No. 420 at Benet in Heidkamp’s illustrious career.
Benet (33-5) closed out the win when Edvardas Stasys stopped Warren superstar Jaxson Davis by knocking away his pass at the buzzer.
“It was just a resilient group, really from the last year,” Heidkamp said. “I think we put a lot of work into having the opportunity tonight. I’m glad that we were able to hang on.”
Heidkamp credited Warren for playing tough and held Davis, who had 17 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and four steals, somewhat in check.
“Warren just didn’t quit. They made it really, really hard,” Heidkamp said. “We had a nine-point lead late in the fourth quarter, and they just kept coming back. We had the big stop at the end, but [Warren] had tremendous players. I’ve been on the other side of this three times.”
Benet’s Daniel Pauliukonis, an SIU recruit, scored a team-high 17 points and pulled down six rebounds. Guard Jayden Wright added 15 points and Blake Fagbemi dropped 14 points and six assists.
“We wanted this really bad,” Wright said. “We wanted this for our coach. He’s the greatest coach ever and a great guy. We wanted to do this for him.”