Oak Park Seniors Finally Celebrate a Tri-Valley League Title

Oak Park High has been the dominant boys’ basketball team in the Tri-Valley League since the mid-1990s.

But the Eagles’ nine seniors carried the burden of never having won a league title.

Until Friday night.

The Eagles held off a fourth-quarter rally by St. Bonaventure for a 50-48 victory in a Tri-Valley League game at St. Bonaventure.

It marks the fifth league title in seven seasons for Oak Park (18-5, 7-0).

The Eagles coasted to a 65-55 victory in the first meeting between the teams on Jan. 19 at Oak Park. This time they had to sweat out every second.

It wasn’t until St. Bonaventure guard Michael Perez rattled a shot off the rim with one second remaining that the Eagles could celebrate.

Oak Park appeared in control after Jason Adams made two free throws for a 48-35 lead with 6:02 remaining.

But the Seraphs (17-4, 4-2) went on a 13-2 run and pulled to within two on a three-point basket by Michael Spargo with 16 seconds left.

St. Bonaventure got off the final shot after Scott Jones of Oak Park lost the ball out of bounds with 12 seconds left.

Oak Park was outscored, 14-5, in the fourth quarter but held on behind junior Jeremy Murphy and senior Zach Smith. Murphy had 17 points. Smith was held to seven but had 13 rebounds.

“We didn’t shoot well,” Coach Rob Hall of Oak Park said. “We didn’t run our plays well and that’s a credit to them.”

St. Bonaventure was led by Chris Saunders with 18 points and nine rebounds, and David Berglund with 14 points.