Kaneland's Jeffrey Hassan sinks game-winning layup to reach state

Junior center's last-second heroics lift unbeaten Knights to 49-47 win over Morton in Class 3A supersectional

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Jeffrey Hassan, a 6-foot-9 junior center for Kaneland High School, sank a game-winning layup in the final seconds to lift his team to a 49-47 victory over Morton in the Class 3A NIU Supersectional. Hassan finished with a game-high 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 blocked shots as Kaneland (35-0) advanced to the state semifinals for the first time since 1981-82.

Why it matters

Kaneland's win over Morton, a 30-win team, sends the undefeated Knights to the state tournament, where they will look to capture the program's first state championship. Hassan's heroics in the final seconds showcase his continued development as a dominant two-way player for Kaneland.

The details

With the game tied 47-47 and 5.2 seconds remaining, Kaneland inbounded the ball to senior guard Evan Frieders, who then fed Hassan for the game-winning layup over Morton's 6-4 senior forward Silas Steffen. Hassan's size and athleticism proved too much for the smaller defender on the final possession.

  • Kaneland trailed 10-0 early but pulled within 14-13 by the end of the first quarter.
  • Kaneland led 26-23 at halftime but trailed 39-38 entering the fourth quarter.
  • Morton tied the game 47-47 with 26.1 seconds left, setting up Kaneland's final possession.

The players

Jeffrey Hassan

A 6-foot-9 junior center for Kaneland High School who finished with a game-high 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 blocked shots in the supersectional win.

Marshawn Cocroft

Kaneland's senior point guard who played all 32 minutes and scored 16 points.

Evan Frieders

Kaneland's senior guard who had 11 points and assisted on the game-winning basket.

Owen Adams

Morton's senior guard who scored a team-high 14 points in the loss.

Ernie Colombe

Kaneland's head coach who drew up the final play that led to Hassan's game-winning layup.

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What they’re saying

“We've been working toward that all season. I knew I could finish it over a smaller defender.”

— Jeffrey Hassan, Junior center, Kaneland (Chicago Tribune)

“We kind of cleared out with cutters and Evan made a nice post feed and Jeff did the rest. It was just these guys executing at the end.”

— Ernie Colombe, Head coach, Kaneland (Chicago Tribune)

“When you're driving, you're always thinking about it. There's a chance of getting it blocked off the backboard. It's always on your mind. He's really athletic. It's hard to get around him.”

— Owen Adams, Senior guard, Morton (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

Kaneland will face Deerfield in the Class 3A state semifinals on Friday at 10 a.m. at the State Farm Center in Champaign.

The takeaway

Jeffrey Hassan's game-winning heroics capped an undefeated season for Kaneland and sent the program to its first state tournament appearance in over 40 years. The Knights' ability to overcome early deficits and execute in crunch time showcases their resilience and championship pedigree as they look to capture the school's first state title.