Extra Points: Robert Blanchard-Coles Leads Strong Bench Play by Marian Catholic

Marian Catholic senior Robert Blanchard-Coles knows exactly what his role on the team is when he comes off the bench.

“Coach always tells me to stay ready,” Blanchard-Coles said. “I’m on the team to knock down some big shots. I always have to stay ready and be a role player out there.”

Blanchard-Coles was certainly ready Monday.

He buried back-to-back three-pointers in the first quarter to help set the tone in Marian Catholic’s 64-55 victory over Joliet West in the Class 4A Plainfield Central Regional quarterfinal.

The Spartans (13-16) trailed 7-6 when Blanchard-Coles hit three-point shots on consecutive possessions to give Marian Catholic the lead for good at 12-7. His three-pointers kick-started a game-changing 20-4 run by the Spartans.

“Robert Coles came off the bench and hit those two threes. That was big,” Marian Catholic coach Mike Taylor said. “He gave us a spark and gave us another hand to go to.”

Marian Catholic’s bench played a key role in the victory.

The bench players combined for 26 points, eight rebounds and two steals, led by Blanchard-Coles (9 points, 1 steal), Michael Hutchinson (8 points, 3 rebounds) and Justin Kennedy (6 points, 4 rebounds).

“We can’t just have five guys (do all the work), we’ve got to have a whole-team effort. That’s the main thing,” Blanchard-Coles said. “Coach Taylor is always stressing to us that we all need to contribute. I just have to keep the intensity up when I get in the game. (Starting point guard Tyler) Ulis is the main reason I’m hitting all these shots. They double on him, and then I’m wide open for the shot.”

What’s Next: Marian’s next challenge will be much more difficult. The Spartans will take on Homewood-Flossmoor. The Vikings are seeded No. 3 in the Thornwood Sectional.

Homewood-Flossmoor beat Marian Catholic 63-43 Nov. 24 in the Chicago Heights Classic.

“We’ll have our hands full,” Taylor said. “We played them early and played pretty well.”

Blanchard-Coles believes the outcome can be different this time.

“H-F is a big game,” Blanchard-Coles said. “We were looking forward to playing them. This is the rematch, and we’re ready for it. It’s going to be a good game.”

Sharp-shooters: Marian Catholic and Joliet West each had two players advance in the Illinois High School Association’s Three-Point Showdown Monday. Marian’s Tyler Ulis made an impressive nine three-pointers to advance to the regional semifinal, while teammate Justin Kennedy and Joliet West’s Kendall Williamson and Brandon Tyson also moved on.

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