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Jack Weigus, who grew up taking 3-pointers, sparks Brother Rice past St. Patrick in state semis. ‘What you dream of.’

CHAMPAIGN — The 3-pointer that Jack Weigus hit at the third-quarter buzzer Friday night was his 92nd of the season for Brother Rice. Knocking down a shot from long distance is pretty routine for the senior guard.

But this one was special. It sparked a dominant game-ending surge for the Crusaders and sent them to the first state championship game in program history.

“We knew the clock was running down,” Weigus said. “Marcos (Gonzales) got a rebound and made a pass and I think it got tipped, but I just went and grabbed the ball and shot it. It went in. You could hear the crowd help us.

“After that, I just think we were able to lock in a little bit more.”

That may be the understatement of the year. The 3-pointer started an 18-0 run for Brother Rice, which pulled away for a 48-33 win over St. Patrick in a Class 3A state semifinal at the State Farm Center.

Weigus led the Crusaders (31-6) with 15 points on five threes. Caden Workman added 14 points and seven rebounds, while Gonzales — a Citadel recruit — had 11 points and five assists. KJ Morris chipped in with six points and six rebounds and Max Justic pulled down five rebounds.

Brother Rice will take on two-time defending state champion DePaul Prep (32-4), a 39-25 winner over Chatham Glenwood, at 6 p.m. Saturday in the championship game.

The Crusaders beat DePaul Prep, a Catholic League Blue rival, 53-52 on Jan. 24.

Brother Rice's Jack Weigus (2) shoots as St. Patrick's E.J. Breland (13) tries to block during the Class 3A state semifinal at State Farm Center in Champaign on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / for the Daily Southtown)

Cooper Kavanaugh scored 10 points for St. Patrick (28-8), which was held scoreless for the first 7:44 of the fourth and would be outscored 15-2 by Brother Rice in the quarter.

The Crusaders were dominant when they needed to be, and it all began with Weigus’ 3-pointer. It came moments after the Shamrocks took their first lead, going up 31-30 in the final minute of the third quarter.

“It started with Jack’s three to end the quarter,” Justic said. “I think that just gave us so much momentum. We just knew there was one quarter left. Just buy in for eight minutes and we’d be playing Saturday night.”

Weigus, who transferred in from Hinsdale South before the school year began, made outside shooting his specialty a long time ago.

Brother Rice's Marcos Gonzales attempts to steal the ball from St. Patrick's Nathan Nano during the Class 3A state semifinal at State Farm Center in Champaign on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / for the Daily Southtown)

“My later years in middle school, I was always way smaller than everyone, so all I could do was just bomb away,” Weigus said. “I couldn’t get my shot up otherwise.

“Ever since then, it’s been just trying to shoot over people and just trying to shoot from far away.”

Weigus hit the first two shots of the night, both 3-pointers, to give Brother Rice a 6-0 lead. The Crusaders led the rest of the way — aside from that brief stretch late in the third quarter — but it was a dogfight until the fourth.

Workman, who led the Crusaders with eight points in the fourth quarter, said defense was the biggest key to the dominant finish.

“I think our offense gets going when we get stops and can get out and run,” Workman said. “We started getting stops and then we were just running and scoring, and we were off from there.”

Brother Rice's K J Morris (1) goes up on a shot as St. Patrick's Nevaeh Hawkins (30) defends during the Class 3A state semifinal at State Farm Center in Champaign on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / for the Daily Southtown)

Now, with the Crusaders are on the brink of history, coach Conte Stamas is enjoying the ride.

“I’m most happy for our school, our community, our alumni and our team,” he said. “Just to see the joy in the stands. We have great kids. I’m just trying to steer this thing a little bit and let them do the work.”

And Weigus? He’s living the dream.

“Growing up, this is like what you dream of,” he said. “Playing at U of I, playing in front of a bunch of people, playing in front of your best friends.

“It’s a surreal feeling. It’s amazing.”

Originally Published: March 13, 2025 at 11:40 PM CDT

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