logo
With time running out, Gabriel Sularski gets Lemont past Marian Catholic. The drive? ‘Just knew I had to attack.'

With time running out, Gabriel Sularski gets Lemont past Marian Catholic. The drive? ‘Just knew I had to attack.'

Chicago Tribune06-03-2025
Lemont's Gabriel Sularski knew by the look on his team's bench how scarce the time was.
The 6-foot-6 junior guard then quickly played out every scenario that he could imagine.
'I had to take the ball out of bounds, and I was not certain whether I'd get the ball back,' Sularski said. 'I got the handoff on the inbounds, I saw their big guy, and I just knew I had to attack.'
And that's exactly what he did.
Sularski's 3-point play with 3.9 seconds remaining Wednesday night powered Lemont to a 56-54 victory over Marian Catholic in a Class 3A Brother Rice Sectional semifinal in Chicago.
Lemont (26-7), which won its 12th straight game, will play at 7 p.m. Friday against the host Crusaders (28-6) for the sectional championship.
A theatrical stage frames Brother Rice's basketball court, a fitting monument given how Sularski and Marian Catholic's Zack Sharkey put on a highlight-reel show worthy of a Tony award.
Sharkey, a senior guard, finished with 32 points for the Spartans (26-8). His 3-pointer with 11 seconds remaining built a 54-53 lead. He also scored 19 points in the second quarter.
While senior forward Delan Davis finished with 11 points for Marian, Sularski responded with 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists. His creativity and playmaking proved to be crucial.
'When I came into Lemont this summer, I didn't really what to expect,' said Sularski, who transferred in from Benet. 'I knew I had really good shooters around me.
'Ever since I was little, I've always learned to be a playmaker for myself and play for others. That has always been a big factor for me.'
Sularski's playmaking set up senior forward Matas Gaidukevicius, who made three 3-pointers in scoring 13 points. Senior guard Shea Glotzbach added eight points.
As a first-year player in the program, Sularski showed remarkable chemistry and awareness of his new teammates. He found openings in Lemont's motion offense, optimizing the half court game.
'A lot of teams like to start out by face-guarding me or other shooters, and that gives him so much space inside to do what he does,' Gaidukevicius said. 'When he first got here, it was kind of awkward because most of us play the same way and suddenly somebody new got thrown.
'We've had a lot of time to build this chemistry.'
Significantly, the winner came with Sularski driving right and shooting with his nominal off-hand. The natural left-hander prefers to finish with his right hand in lane and around the basket.
'He's very ambidextrous that way,' Lemont coach Rick Runaas said. 'I have him in class, and I know he writes with his right hand. He hits a golf club and shoots with his left.
'He had his ups and downs, some turnovers, some missed shots, but he's always up for the challenge.'
Sularski finished through contact against Marian's Landon Mays, a solid 6-5 sophomore forward.
'I broke my thumb in fifth grade, so I got to work on my left hand even more than usual,' Sularski said. 'I've worked really hard to get strong with both hands. Everyone tries to just force me right.
'But that's huge for me having the finishing ability with either hand.'
Sularski also shrugged off an air ball on a 3-point attempt. He never lost his cool, even when Marian surged with a 13-0 run in the fourth quarter that wiped out Lemont's nine-point lead.
'I've talked about this a lot with my coach that resilience is a big thing with me,' he said. 'Not everything's going to go your way. There are going to be turnovers.
'If you let it get to your head, you'll lose the game. No matter what, I try to stay through it.'
Originally Published:
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Why Rob Manfred is Bypassing Union Leadership to Court Players
Why Rob Manfred is Bypassing Union Leadership to Court Players

Yahoo

time5 days ago

  • Yahoo

Why Rob Manfred is Bypassing Union Leadership to Court Players

An MLB lockout after the 2026 season seems inevitable when the current collective bargaining agreement expires that December. During his annual meetings with teams, Commissioner Rob Manfred has reportedly been telling players that MLB Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark and union leadership are not interested in delivering change for rank-and-file members. Front Office Sports reporter Eric Fisher is calling Manfred's strategy 'potentially high-risk, high-reward.' The Athletic's Evan Drelich reported last month that Manfred believes there is a disconnect in thinking between the union and players. 'There seems to be kind of a mismatch between what we see at the union leadership level and what the players are thinking,' Manfred said at an investor event held by the Atlanta Braves recently. 'The strategy is to get directly to the players. I don't think the leadership of this union is anxious to lead the way to change. So we need to energize the workforce in order to get them familiar with or supportive of the idea that maybe change in the system could be good for everybody.' In the last labor deal, the executive committee was against it, but the union members voted for it and it passed. In an interview with Sportsnaut's 'Big League Buzz,' Fisher noted that Manfred is hoping to get his point across to rank-and-file members without union leadership present. 'That's kind of the thinking this time around,' said Fisher. 'If Manfred can meet with individual players, get his point across, maybe a similar situation can happen again in 2026. Regardless of what executive leadership at the union — either from a staff basis or a player-based executive committee — thinks of what's on the table, again, if a plurality of players like it, maybe they can get to a different place. 'That's the overarching strategy. I also think there are some personality issues at play. I think the principals involved on both sides of the table don't necessarily like each other that much.' The biggest issue will be owners wanting to institute a salary cap. The MLBPA and union members have been against it, pointing to what happens in the NFL every year where players are getting released or having their deals restructured. 'There's a principle that's been in place for decades, but they also, on a very tangible, real-world basis, see negative outcomes elsewhere in sports that they don't want to copy,' said Fisher about the MLBPA being against a salary cap in baseball. The last MLB lockout occurred from Dec. 2, 2021 until March 10, 2022. It delayed the start of the season but no regular season games were missed. Related Headlines '1 Percent Chance': Pirates Reporter Shares Bleak Take on Paul Skenes Extension Prospects Yankees Expected 'To Get After It' Before Trade Deadline: 6 Blockbuster Trade Targets, Including Chris Sale Top MLB reporter: Teams Will 'Laugh At' Luis Robert Jr. If He Makes This Demand Did Kyle Schwarber's All-Star Game Heroics Drive Up His Price With Free Agency Looming?

Orioles righty Grayson Rodriguez's rehab shut down due to sore elbow
Orioles righty Grayson Rodriguez's rehab shut down due to sore elbow

Yahoo

time6 days ago

  • Yahoo

Orioles righty Grayson Rodriguez's rehab shut down due to sore elbow

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Baltimore right-hander Grayson Rodriguez had a setback in his comeback from an elbow injury and the Orioles have shut him down indefinitely. 'We had to pull back a little bit on Grayson,' interim manager Tony Mansolino told reporters before Friday night's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. 'There's a little bit of elbow discomfort from the issue he had in spring training — same spot. So we're going to kind of pull back, we're going to re-evaluate, and we'll probably have more information on that in the next week or so.' Rodriguez started the season on the injured list due to right elbow inflammation that flared up in spring training. A rehab outing scheduled for April 17 was canceled because of a strained lat muscle. The 2018 first-round draft pick, who missed three months of the minor league season in 2022 with a lat injury, hasn't pitched in the majors since July 31, 2024. He finished last season on the IL with a strained lat. 'Grayson's a great competitor,' Mansolino said. 'He's fierce, and he's tough, and this is really hard for him. It's hard for his teammates, hard for the Orioles. Hopefully, we get better news in the next week or so and kind of see where he's at.' ___ AP MLB:

Orioles righty Grayson Rodriguez's rehab shut down due to sore elbow
Orioles righty Grayson Rodriguez's rehab shut down due to sore elbow

Yahoo

time6 days ago

  • Yahoo

Orioles righty Grayson Rodriguez's rehab shut down due to sore elbow

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Baltimore right-hander Grayson Rodriguez had a setback in his comeback from an elbow injury and the Orioles have shut him down indefinitely. 'We had to pull back a little bit on Grayson,' interim manager Tony Mansolino told reporters before Friday night's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. 'There's a little bit of elbow discomfort from the issue he had in spring training — same spot. So we're going to kind of pull back, we're going to re-evaluate, and we'll probably have more information on that in the next week or so.' Rodriguez started the season on the injured list due to right elbow inflammation that flared up in spring training. A rehab outing scheduled for April 17 was canceled because of a strained lat muscle. The 2018 first-round draft pick, who missed three months of the minor league season in 2022 with a lat injury, hasn't pitched in the majors since July 31, 2024. He finished last season on the IL with a strained lat. 'Grayson's a great competitor,' Mansolino said. 'He's fierce, and he's tough, and this is really hard for him. It's hard for his teammates, hard for the Orioles. Hopefully, we get better news in the next week or so and kind of see where he's at.' ___ AP MLB: The Associated Press

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store