Sandburg’s Will Johnson didn’t always have the self-belief needed to want the ball in his hands with the game on the line.
The senior guard certainly has it now, though. He knows he can be the one to push his team over the top.
“The confidence to take the shot in that moment, that’s definitely developed over the years,” Johnson said. “Teammates trusting me and coaches trusting me, that definitely is what gave me that.
“I was not born with that.”
Johnson was ready to win the game Friday night. His runner with seven seconds left in overtime lifted the host Eagles to a 53-51 SouthWest Suburban Conference victory over Lincoln-Way Central in Orland Park.
The 6-foot-2 Johnson finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead Sandburg (11-6, 4-3). Bryson Dagon came off the bench to score 13 points, while Daniel Morakinyo chipped in with six points and Will Hooks had six rebounds.
Sandburg’s Will Johnson (3) pulls up for a shot against Lincoln-Way Central during a SouthWest Suburban Conference game in Orland Park on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
Drew Woodburn scored 16 points for the Knights (11-4, 4-2), who played without Nick Brzezniak, one of their top scorers. Alex Panos added 13 points, Micah Evans ended up with nine points and 10 rebounds and Elwood Chesta contributed six points.
Panos buried a deep 3-pointer to tie the game 51-51 with 15 seconds to go in OT. Johnson quickly raced up the court and didn’t hesitate to attack the basket, knocking down a tough runner in the lane while closely guarded.
The Knights could only manage a hopeless heave from well beyond halfcourt at the buzzer.
Johnson’s mentality in the final moments was simple.
Sandburg’s Malachi Perkins (1) celebrates after the Eagles defeated Lincoln-Way Central in overtime of a SouthWest Suburban Conference game in Orland Park on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
“Just go,” he said. “Just get in the lane and make a shot. The worst I could do is miss and go to overtime. But I just had to go.
“When it went in, it felt great. The energy was amazing. I love it. That’s why I play.”
Morakinyo knew Johnson was the right guy to take the shot.
“He’s the best, man,” Morakinyo said. “Coach said, ‘If they score, just go.’ I inbounded the ball to Will. I just knew he was going to make some magic happen. That’s what he does.”
Lincoln-Way Central’s Drew Woodburn (4) tries to pass around Sandburg’s Jonah Johnson (5) during a SouthWest Suburban Conference game in Orland Park on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
And doing it in front of a large home crowd made it even better.
“It was magical,” Morakinyo said. “It’s the most people I’ve seen in a crowd in a long time, and when he hit that shot, it was like all the weight was released off my shoulders.
“We really needed this win.”
Sandburg nearly upset Homewood-Flossmoor on Tuesday, falling short during the final minute of a 51-47 loss. Five of the Eagles’ six losses are by single digits.
Sandburg coach John Daniels felt his team needed to get over the hump in a close game.
“I told the kids, ‘We’ve got to get one of these,” Daniels said. “(Lincoln-Way Central coach) Brian Flaherty is the best coach around. We knew it was going to be tough. We really needed it.”
Daniels was thrilled to see Johnson step up in the big moment.
Sandburg’s Will Johnson (3) takes a shot from the middle of Lincoln-Way Central’s defense during a SouthWest Suburban Conference game in Orland Park on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
“He’s coming out of his shell and he’s becoming a player,” Daniels said. “Sometimes, it takes players some time. It’s a mentality. I was a scorer and he’s figuring out how to have that mentality.
“You don’t pass up the shot. We want him taking that shot at the end. As a coach, you’ve got to figure out how to have your best player taking that shot.”
One thing Johnson — who shares the starting lineup with his twin brother, Jonah — has always had is toughness, which is consistently on display on his drives to the basket.
“My dad (Will), growing up, was really tough on us,” Johnson said. “I played other physical sports growing up like football.
“And of course, me and my brother have had some battles. We make each other tougher.”
