Boys Basketball: Josh Padilla, Mason Accidentale spark big run, Plano holds off Streator comeback

It was time for a couple of Plano senior hoopsters to step up Wednesday and boy did Josh Padilla and Mason Accidentale do so in the biggest of ways.

With the consolation semifinal versus No. 8 seed Streator on the line both Padilla and Accidentale took the game into their own hands for the unseeded Reapers during a key stretch in the proceedings.

With the contest tied at 33 apiece late in the third quarter Plano’s dynamic duo sparked a 16-2 run that entered the fourth period to take a sizable 14 point lead.

From there, the hosts of the tournament were able to hang on desperately to sweat out a scintillating 55-54 victory against the Bulldogs who missed a 3-point shot at the buzzer after an amazing rally that kept all in attendance guessing until the final horn.

Padilla registered a game-high and season best 23 points and four key 3 pointers while Accidentale added 18 points and four threes leaving him just two points shy of 1,000 for his career.

“Our guys just did a great job finding Josh and Mason when we needed them to tonight and both of them delivered big time with some key shots,” Plano coach Kyle Kee said. “They were both huge in that rally where we went up double figures early in the fourth quarter. Then we had to hang tough against a very good Streator ballclub. But in the end we got the win and I’m very proud of our team.”

The Bulldogs received a team-leading 19 points and 10 rebounds from senior Jack Haynes as well as 16 tallies from senior Jack Starkey.

But Streator couldn’t quite get over the hump after falling behind by 14 early in the final frame despite the valiant rally.

“Plano had the firepower to make that big run at us in the third quarter with their two guys hitting some big shots,” SHS coach Beau Doty said. “Give credit to them and we had a shot to win at the buzzer but it didn’t go our way tonight.”

Plano (5-6) led 14-10 after one quarter as Padilla tallied nine points including a scoop layup inside at the buzzer entering the second stanza.

There, Streator outscored the Reapers 13-12 but Accidentale’s top-of-the-key triple late gave Plano a 26-23 advantage at the half.

Then in the third period – with the game tied at 33 apiece – Padilla started the big Reaper rally of the night with a runner off the glass at 2:25. Accidentale followed with a left-wing trey at 1:45 before Padilla’s right-baseline triple with 45 seconds to go in the frame made the score 41-32 in Plano’s favor. Accidentale ended the quarter with a huge 3 ball right in front of his home fans cheering section and a big fist pump with the Reapers ahead 46-35 with one quarter to go.

“The energy was incredible from our fans and when I hit that shot it was amazing,” Accidentale said. “We had all the momentum and Josh (Padilla) carried it into the fourth quarter.”

Padilla put Plano ahead 49-35 with a long-range triple to open the final frame at 7:30.

“I got hammered but still made the bucket,” Padilla said. “Even though I missed the free throw we had a big lead.”

But Streator wasn’t finished, not by a long shot as it embarked in a 19-4 rally to take a 54-53 lead on a Haynes 3 point play with 1:20 to go.

However, senior Carion Hale scored the game winner in the post with 60 seconds left to play before the Bulldogs missed a 3 pointer to win at the buzzer for the win.

Plano will now face No. 7 seed Morris for the Consolation Championship at 3:15 Thursday while Streator falls to the 11th place game at 12:15 versus unseeded Coal City.