UPDATE: Good Things Come in Threes for Wheaton South Tigers

AURORA—Four years ago, West Aurora ended the prep career of ’s older brother, Reagan, by ousting Wheaton St. Francis in the 2007 postseason.

On Wednesday night, Reilly made sure he and his teammates would not experience the same fate as his brother. O’Toole and classmate  put on a three-point shooting exhibition that found its way into the IHSA record books and lifted the Tigers past the Blackhawks, 76-59.

The senior duo drilled 15 three-pointers between them—Kern nailed eight, and O’Toole seven. Overall, the Tigers tallied 16 treys, the most by any team in the state since South Beloit scored 16 threes in 2009. (The state record for most threes by one team in a game is 21.)

“I was just feeling it so I just kept on throwing it up there,” said O’Toole, who scored a game-high 31 points to go along with nine rebounds and five assists. “I really wanted to get this one. Coach (), this is his last year (as coach) so I really want to give my all to send him out on a high note because he deserves it.”

Healy, who’s stepping down after the season to concentrate exclusively on his role as WWS athletic director, noted afterward that O’Toole and Kern didn’t force their threes. Each had open looks throughout the game.

“It was one of those days where every time we shot the basketball, it felt like, ‘What was wrong when it didn’t go in,’ ” Healy said. “They were all open shots. I thought we did a great job of making extra passes to get those threes. There were a lot of assists off that.”

West Aurora, a team Wheaton South had defeated twice during the regular season, grabbed a 13-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. Then it was bombs away for the Tigers.

The first of four second-quarter treys by O’Toole tied the game at 18. O’Toole and Kern then teamed up for four straight threes towards the end of the half to propel Wheaton South to a 30-23 lead at intermission.

Kern, who’s missed most of the year recovering from a broken collarbone he suffered during football season last November, completed an 8-1 WWS run at the start of the third quarter with a three from the baseline. That made it 38-24. With 3:48 left in the period, O’Toole and Kern teamed up for consecutive treys, and the Tigers led 44-26.

Kern finished with 24 points—all coming from beyond the three-point arc. Wednesday’s game was only Kern’s sixth of the season since returning from the injury.

“We haven’t been shooting that well this year, so we knew it would click sometime,” O’Toole said. “Thankfully it clicked tonight. Travis has brought such an energy to our team since he came back from that collarbone injury. We’re just excited to have him back and hopefully keep it going.”

Jason Schuman contributed seven rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots for the Tigers (19-9), who’ve won 10 straight contests.

Wheaton South faces powerful Downers South for the regional championship on Friday. The No. 2 seed Mustangs (24-3) got a scare from upset-minded Glenbard North in their regional semifinal Tuesday night before pulling out a 54-51 win.

“We’re excited,” Healy said. “They’re as good a team as there is in the sectional, I think, but we’re happy we have that opportunity. We have to do some things a little bit better defensively. You don’t expect to shoot the basketball the way we shot it (Wednesday night), but we’ll see what happens.”

Wheaton Warrenville South 76, West Aurora 59

WWS—O’Toole 11 4-7 31, Bridges 1 2-2 5, Schuman 3 0-0 6, Kern 8 0-0 24, Fuster 0 0-0 0, Zyburt 0 0-0 0, Baerwolf 0 0-0 0, Roadman 1 1-2 3, Jadzak 1 1-1 3, Crowe 0 0-0 0, Bednarz 1 0-0 2. Totals 26 8-12 76.

West Aurora—Lee 0 0-0 0, Hayes 1 0-0 2, Pilmer 3 0-0 6, Battle 6 4-5 16, Starks 7 6-9 22, Dennison 1 0-0 2, Goulding 1 0-0 2, Walker 3 0-0 8, S. Thomas 0 0-0 0, C. Thomas 0 0-0 0, Clausen 0 0-0 0, Woodson 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 10-13 59.

Score by quarters

WWS                     10    20     26     20—76

West Aurora     13    10      12      24—59

Three point baskets: WWS 16 (O’Toole 7, Kern 8, Bridges), West Aurora 4 (Starks 2, Walker 2).Total fouls: WWS 13, 16 (Dennison fouled out). Turnovers: WWS 14, West Aurora 12.

Editor's Note: See the rest of this story at 6 a.m. Friday