Boys basketball: Benet coach Gene Heidkamp wins 400th game

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – The well-wishers for Benet coach Gene Heidkamp lined the hallway outside of St. Viator’s Cahill Gymnasium on Jan. 5.

Heidkamp’s Redwings had just beaten the host Lions 67-39 in East Suburban Catholic Conference play and with the victory secured the coach’s 400th win.

Heidkamp’s mother-in-law presented him with a bouquet of roses. St. Viator coach Michael O’Keeffe gave him the game ball as a souvenir.

The Redwings (15-1, 7-0) broke out to a 12-0 lead to start the game and never looked back.

St. Viator (10-7, 3-4) pulled as close as 12-6 and kept Benet at arm’s length for most of the first two-and-a-half quarters.

“We got off to a slow start even though we had some pretty good looks,” O’Keeffe said. “But the ball wouldn’t fall.”

The Redwings led 33-20 at halftime and 53-35 after three quarters.

“We missed a few shots when we were within 13 (46-33) in the third quarter and then a few turnovers and within 30 to 45 seconds it was 18 points,” O’Keeffe said. “They are a very sound, skilled, athletic team.”

A 14-0 Benet run to start the fourth quarter built the lead to 67-35 with 3:02 left in the game.

“St. Viator did a good job of hanging in there and they played us tough like they do here,” Heidkamp said. “They exposed us to some mismatches.”

The sophomore twin towers of Gabe Sularski and Colin Stack did most of the damage in the lane against St. Viator.

Sularski led Benet with 12 points and four rebounds. Stack scored 10 points and snared six boards.

“Gabe moves well with the ball,” Stack said. “He has the ability to find myself and others in good position.”

“We’ve been playing well,” Sularski said. “It was good to get back into some conference play.”

“Sularski and Stack are playing well beyond their years,” Heidkamp said. “They are two solid players. They both have had good years. Stack made second-team all-tournament at Pontiac last week.”

Ten players scored for Benet, which was not surprising to Heidkamp.

“We have a deep team,” Heidkamp said. “We have a lot of guys who can help us. Sometimes it’s a little difficult to figure out rotations because of all the good players we have. It’s a good problem to have.”

Patrick Walsh scored nine points and Blake Fagbemi added eight points for Benet, which shot 20 of 40 from the field including 11 3-point baskets and won the rebound battle 29-10.

St. Viator had a rough night shooting, hitting only 13 of 35. Junior Joey Hernandez scored 15 points for the Lions and junior Brandon Michaels scored 13.

https://www.dailyherald.com/20240105/boys-basketball/benets-heidkamp-wins-400th-game/