Spartan's O'Toole Fools Warriors

By David Oberhelman
Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Sunday, December 17, 2006

Twice on Saturday night St. Francis senior Reagan O’Toole pulled a bait-and-switch on Wheaton Academy’s defense.

The 6-foot-2 guard found teammate Mike Allen alone behind a zone defense and under the basket to send the Spartans into overtime.

O’Toole decoyed again on Allen’s winning basket to give St. Francis the nonconference boys basketball victory, 52-49 at St. Francis’ Spyglass Athletic Center in Wheaton.

“They’re all looking towards Reagan,” Allen said, “and Reagan’s such a great player, even though it’s supposed to be a shot he tries to find the open man and tries to make the team better.”

Allen’s lay-in off O’Toole’s penetration and pass tied the score 47-47 with 1:23 left in regulation. O’Toole had a shot at the game-winner, but his lefty runner fell short, into the hands of Wheaton Academy’s Joel Malmquist at the buzzer.

It didn’t dim the zest of O’Toole, whose 15 points followed guard Jake Armbrust with 19 for St. Francis (8-1).

“We were actually excited to play overtime. We were ready to go,” O’Toole said.

Allen put St. Francis up 49-47 on 2 free throws. John Albaugh answered with a fastbreak finish to tie at 2:28 in overtime.

Allen, who scored 9 points, made it 51-49 at 1:42 when O’Toole raised to shoot but zipped the ball down low.

“He’s a very unselfish player, and that’s what you’ve got to love about him,” said Spartans coach Shawn Healy.

O’Toole’s free throw with 19 seconds left provided the 52-49 final score. The Warriors missed a 3-pointer at the horn.

“Three things” bugged Wheaton Academy coach Paul Ferguson, he said. “We really could have shot the ball a little better, free throws and just a couple mental mistakes at the end of the game.”

Wheaton Academy (3-7) made 8 of 18 free throws. One night after making eight 3-pointers the Warriors managed 3 due to pressure by Armbrust and O’Toole on bombers Ben Euler and Malmquist.

Freshman center Tim Rusthoven fought foul trouble to lead Wheaton Academy with 13 points. Albaugh had 11 including a fastbreak layup and free throw for a 46-43 lead at 3:18 of the fourth quarter.

Adjustments steadied the Warriors, who trailed the Spartans until a Malmquist 3 put Wheaton Academy up 36-34 at 1:26 of the third quarter.

The big adjustment was putting senior forward Matt Jones onto Armbrust, whose 17 first-half points had St. Francis leading 29-24 at the half. Jones held the crafty senior guard to 2 from then on.

“It’s kind of my role this year on the team,” Jones said, “and I’ve embraced it from coach.”