Keshawn Williams’ statement slam propels Bloom past Bloomington

PONTIAC—Bloom junior Keshawn Williams blazed down the court in the fourth quarter of the Pontiac Holiday Tournament semifinals, desperate to get a basket and stop the second-half freefall his team was in.

He saw an opening for a dunk and took it, but he got a lot more than he bargained for. Bloomington’s Chris Payton, a strong and talented 6-7 shot blocker, leapt in the air to shut him down.

“I knew was going to go for it but I didn’t think he was gonna jump and try and stop me,” Williams said. “When I saw him go up I thought he was going to block it, but he didn’t.”

Bloom’s 18-point halftime lead had shrunk to just three points. Williams was fouled by Payton on the dunk so it gave the Blazing Trojans a six-point cushion and enough momentum to pull out a 74-69 victory.

“That was maturity,” Bloom coach Dante Maddox Jr. said. “He really stepped up. His dunk, attacking the basket was a statement. That is what we needed to get back on track. He was up for the challenge.”

“[Payton] is the only person we’ve faced like that this year. He has great timing and presence. That is what made that basket by Keshawn even more special. He challenged the big guy.”

Bloomington’s Chris Payton (3) drives down the lane, Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Bloomington’s Chris Payton (3) makes a basket over Bloom’s Emani Burgess (0), Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Bloom’s Dante Maddox Jr. (12) shoot a technical foul against Bloomington, Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Bloomington’s Chris Payton (3) gets in the lane, Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Bloomington’s Chris Payton (3) gets his shoot blocked by Bloom, Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Bloomington’s Caleb Donaldson (2) gets fouled by Bloom’s Donovan Newby (1), Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Bloomington’s Caleb Donaldson (2) makes a powerful dunk, Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Bloomington’s Caleb Donaldson (2) gets dunk in the first half, Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Bloom’s Donovan Newby (1) hits a shot off the glass, Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Bloomington’s Caleb Donaldson (2) gets a steal for a dunk, Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Bloomington’s Chris Payton (3) gives a fan a fist bump before the game, Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Bloom’s Dante Maddox Jr. (12) goes straight up to make a shoot, Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Bloom’s Emani Burgess (0) blows past Bloomington’s Donzell Johnson (22), Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Bloom’s head coach Dante Maddox tries to plead his case with the official, Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Bloom’s coach Dante Maddox has a talk with the official, Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Bloom’s Matrice Mitchell (2) makes an easy jump shot, Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Bloom’s Donovan Newby (1) around the corner against Bloomington, Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times | Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Bloom’s Keshawn Williams (11) gets the ball between Bloomington’s Donzell Johnson (22) and Bloomington’s Caleb Donaldson (2), Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Bloom’s Dante Maddox Jr. (12) takes a hard foul against Bloomington, Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Bloom’s Matrice Mitchell (2) hauls in a rebound, Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Bloom’s Keshawn Williams (11) makes his way to the basket Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Bloom’s Matrice Mitchell (2) and Bloomington’s Chris Payton (3) fight for position, Saturday 12-29-18. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Payton, an SIU recruit, finished with 22 points, six rebounds and three blocks.

“He’s a great player,” Williams said. “I didn’t know he was that good.”

Williams had 21 points and six rebounds. He was able to draw fouls and get to the free-throw line repeatedly while Bloom’s offense struggled in the second half and Bloomington surged back into the game.

“[Bloomington] scored a lot of big buckets in the third quarter,” Williams said. “We were just trying to get stops. They just kept scoring though so I tried to help us stay composed on the offensive side.”

Donovan Newby scored 15 for the Blazing Trojans (14-0) and Dante Maddox Jr. added 15. Martice Mitchell, a 6-10 junior, had 15 points and six rebounds. He flashed some tremendous potential in the first five minutes of the game with three three-pointers, another jumper, a block, three rebounds and a steal.

“The funny thing about this team, you don’t know who it will be in any game,” Maddox Sr. said. “Yesterday it was Dante, today it was Keshawn. That is why you are a team, not just a superstar.”

Bloom will face undefeated, top ranked Curie in the title game tonight at 9 p.m. The Blazing Trojans won the tournament in 1973 and 1963 and have finished second four times.