FRANKFORT - Going into this game Thornton's (27-1) coach Troy Jackson knew he had to guard several key players of Marian Catholic (16-13), Danny Panici, Chris Haskin and Brian Johnson, who totally took over against Homewood-Flossmoor, especially from behind the arc. Panici, Haskin, Johnson and Pinto combined for 12 three-pointers against H-F. The Spartans have put up well over 800 three-point attempts this season. Panici has drained 91, Johnson 63 and Haskin 61. Haskin believes they’ve got more than the dribble drive going for them.

But in this game he had to raise the level of security to code WILDCAT! The Wildcats have a balanced bunch of players including the likes of Reggie Smith and Darrell Robinson, and a couple of 6'4"-foot-4 forwards Richie Thompson and Trevell Rivers.

And so, the Spartans have conquered T.F. North and number 3 seed H-F, and now will now try to upend number 1 Thornton. Marian Catholic employs the dribble drive offense, an attack Memphis and Derrick Rose rode to the 2008 NCAA title game. “We spread the floor, don’t really play with a post-up player, and look to attack gaps,” Marian Catholic coach  Taylor said. “It attracts help. If it does, then we kick it out for threes. If not, we make every attempt to get to the basket. For the most part we’ve chosen to shoot the threes.”

The Wildcats came into this game number 1 across all local polls and a top 10 spot nationally, so they were the heavy favorite against the Spartans Friday night.  T.F. North came into the regional championship as the number 2 seed and left them with a 56-53 lost to Marian Catholic March 6. So, did Thornton's swagger get the best of them? Not at all... the Wildcats came in to this game with confidence and left the gym with even more confidence as they defeated Marian Catholic 55-39.

The Cats scored 19 straight points from the end of the third period into the final period, which seemed to be the knock out blow.

"We're a second-half team, and we thrive on our defense," said Thornton's coach Troy Jackson after the game. "Our guys took it personally to not let their man score on them."

During this late run, Jamal Gray came off the bench and hit two consecutive big 3-pointers to get things started and finished the contest with 9 points with one more big three down the stretch. "We watched them play the other day and we practiced hard to stop them

Thornton will play in the Class 4A Supersectional championships against Belleville East Tuesday night at Illinois State University (730pm).