Fighting Saints grind past Lake Park to reach Sectional Championship

St. Charles East’s Fighting Saints used a late defensive stand and timely scoring to knock off Lake Park 39-32 in an IHSA Class 4A sectional semifinal Wednesday night at Bartlett High School, avenging two regular-season losses and earning a spot in Thursday’s sectional championship against Glenbard West.

The decisive stretch came in the fourth quarter, when the Saints turned a one-possession game into a two-score cushion with back-to-back stops and a key bucket from leading scorer Addison Schilb. Lake Park, which had found success against the Saints twice in the regular season, was forced into contested jumpers and empty trips in the closing minutes as St. Charles East protected the lead at the free-throw line and closed out the seven-point win.

Schilb finished with 12 points to pace a balanced Saints offense on a night when defense dictated the tempo. St. Charles East limited the Lancers to 32 points, clogging driving lanes and closing out on shooters in the half court. The Saints’ rotations tightened as the game wore on, and Lake Park struggled to generate clean looks during the final quarter, managing just a handful of field goals as time ran down.

The victory marked a measure of payback for the Saints, who had dropped a 33-28 decision to Lake Park earlier in the season and fell to the Lancers twice in DuKane Conference play. In the postseason rematch on a neutral floor, St. Charles East controlled the pace from the opening tip, keeping the score in the 30s and preventing Lake Park from building any of the key runs that defined the earlier meetings.

St. Charles East’s defense set the tone out of halftime, as the Saints tightened up on the perimeter and forced the Lancers deeper into the shot clock. Several key stops in the third quarter allowed the Saints to maintain a slim advantage heading into the final eight minutes, where they relied on poise and execution. Rebounds in traffic and loose-ball recoveries helped St. Charles East limit Lake Park to one shot on most possessions.

The sectional semifinal win continues a strong postseason run for a Saints team that captured the regional championship by defeating Batavia for the third time this season. With the victory over Lake Park, St. Charles East moves one step closer to a supersectional berth and will return to Bartlett High School on Thursday at 7 p.m. to take on Glenbard West with a sectional title on the line.

Riding a defense that has held recent opponents in check and a lineup that has produced multiple double-figure scorers throughout the postseason, the Saints enter the championship matchup with momentum. Regardless of the outcome, the sectional semifinal win over Lake Park stands as a significant benchmark in St. Charles East’s season, showcasing resilience, growth and the ability to respond in the biggest moments.