Kaneland's Jeffrey Hassan battles Deerfield's Jake Pollack in 3A state semifinal

Hassan scores 10 points as Kaneland rallies before losing 49-48 in OT

Mar. 14, 2026 at 12:10am

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Kaneland junior center Jeffrey Hassan scored 10 points and grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds, but his team fell just short against Deerfield 49-48 in overtime in the Class 3A state semifinal. Hassan's battle with Deerfield's 6-9 senior center Jake Pollack, who finished with 20 points, 7 rebounds and 5 blocks, was a highlight of the game.

Why it matters

This matchup between two talented big men showcased the high level of play in the Class 3A state semifinals. Despite Kaneland's first loss of the season, Hassan's gutsy performance with a sprained wrist demonstrated his skills and leadership for the Knights.

The details

Hassan sparked a furious Kaneland comeback from a 14-point deficit in the third quarter, helping force overtime. He had 10 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks, while Pollack finished with 20 points, 7 rebounds and 5 blocks for Deerfield. The game came down to the final seconds, with Kaneland unable to get a shot off in the final possession of overtime.

  • The game was played on Friday, March 14, 2026 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.
  • Kaneland trailed by 14 points early in the third quarter before rallying to force overtime.

The players

Jeffrey Hassan

A 6-foot-9 junior center for Kaneland High School who had a strong performance in the state semifinal despite a sprained wrist, scoring 10 points with 15 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Jake Pollack

A 6-foot-9 senior center for Deerfield High School who led his team with 20 points, 7 rebounds and 5 blocks in the state semifinal win over Kaneland.

Ernie Colombe

The head coach of the Kaneland High School basketball team.

Dan McKendrick

The head coach of the Deerfield High School basketball team.

Marshawn Cocroft

A senior guard for Kaneland High School who helped lead the team's comeback effort.

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What they’re saying

“We're not gonna hang our heads. It's a tough loss. Credit Deerfield. They played well. Our issue was we had some open looks early but missed some shots and fell behind.”

— Ernie Colombe, Kaneland Head Coach

“In the third quarter, you saw why Kaneland is who they are. They were putting good solid defensive pressure on us. It's a state semifinal, maybe we felt it a little bit, got a little timid. In overtime, we found the baskets when we needed them.”

— Dan McKendrick, Deerfield Head Coach

“He's a great player. I just tried to be there for my team. When he'd drive, I just tried to wall up. On offense, I was just trying to attack every time I got the ball.”

— Jeffrey Hassan

What’s next

Deerfield will advance to the Class 3A state championship game on Saturday, March 15, 2026.

The takeaway

This hard-fought semifinal matchup between two talented big men showcased the high level of play in the Class 3A tournament. Despite the loss, Kaneland's Jeffrey Hassan demonstrated his skills and leadership, providing a glimpse of the team's bright future.