Sullivan leads Freeport boys to playoff berth with win over Indiana

By: Jerin Steele
Friday, February 9, 2024 | 10:10 PM

Brady Sullivan said his favorite spot to shoot from is the right wing but admitted he likes to put up shots from everywhere.

He certainly proved that Friday night with Freeport’s season on the line.

Sullivan sank seven 3-pointers and scored a career-high 33 points to lead Freeport past Indiana, 66-58, in a battle for the final playoff spot in Section 1-4A.

“It’s an awesome feeling,” Sullivan said. “We haven’t always had the outcome we’ve wanted this season, but our team never gave up. The win feels great, and I’m excited for the playoffs.”

With the win, Freeport (6-14, 3-7) advanced to the postseason for a fourth consecutive season.

“We’re in the playoffs,” Yellowjackets coach Rich Macura said. “That was our goal from the beginning of the season. Everything from here on is a bonus.”

Clinching a playoff spot didn’t come without a fight from Indiana (8-13, 2-8), which was seeking its first postseason berth since 2018.

Freeport led by seven after three quarters, but Indiana went on a 10-0 run to take a brief lead.

A critical moment came with four and a half minutes remaining when Mark Collinger fouled Brian Kijowski on a 3-point attempt. Collinger fouled out, and Kijowski made two of the three free throws to put the Yellowjackets back ahead.

Freeport led the rest of the way.

Indiana played without standout freshman Aaron Webb because of injury.

“The effort was there … I mean, my goodness gracious, we played hard,” Indiana coach Greg Lezanic said. “We were a little short-handed due to injuries, and Mark Collinger being in foul trouble all night certainly didn’t help. Truthfully, Jaden Petrovich shouldn’t be playing either, because has shoulder issues and ankle issues and this was Stanford Webb’s first night back after being out with injury. We were a little short on the bench, but we played so hard. I’m so proud of those guys.”

Sullivan had 13 of his 33 points in the fourth. He went 6 for 6 from the free-throw line in the final 30 seconds to put the game away.

“I just wanted to do whatever it took to win that game,” Sullivan said. “I wasn’t nervous when I went to the line. I just had to do what I had been doing all night, and that was make shots.”

Sullivan had a pair of 3-pointers in each of the first three quarters, most of them well beyond the arc.

“He didn’t have a great shooting night when we played them (at Freeport), but tonight from 25 feet in if he got a good look at the hoop, it went down,” Lezanic said. “I actually thought our defense played pretty good. (Sullivan) was just great.”

Danny King, Sean Selinger and Dempsey Cowan hit a 3-pointer each, giving Freeport 10 on the night.

Evan Brocious led Indiana with 13 points. Trevor Todd scored 11, and Hunter Martin scored 10.

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Freeport, Indiana