The big guys got it right.

Find Freddy Hassan was the name of the game Wednesday night.

Parker Violett, who is Hassan’s running mate down low on the blocks in Kaneland’s offense, did it twice in the final three minutes to make the difference in a tense playoff atmosphere.

Hassan, a 6-foot-6 junior forward, forms quite a tandem with Violett, a 6-4 senior forward.

“We were trying to get the ball inside to Parker, and he’s capable of making stuff happen,” Knights coach Ernie Colombe said. “We told them, ‘If they collapse on Parker, you and Freddy are a pair, so Freddy, you duck in and vice versa.’ We did a good job of looking for (Parker).”

Violett did the rest.

He assisted on two late baskets by Hassan as the power-packed duo helped keep Belvidere North at bay in the host Knights’ 57-50 victory in a Class 3A Kaneland Sectional semifinal.

Hassan finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead Kaneland (26-5).

Senior guard Troyer Carlson, the program’s all-time leading scorer, had 20 points against the Blue Thunder (22-12), who were led by senior guard Braeden Brown with 18 points and four 3-pointers.

The Knights — who play at 7 p.m. Friday against Fox Valley Conference champion Crystal Lake South (30-3) for the title — advances to a sectional final for the first time since the 1981-82 team made it downstate in Class A.

How did they get there? Well, Violett fed Hassan on the baseline for a dunk that turned into a huge 3-point play when he was fouled and made the free throw. That built a 49-47 lead.

Violett, who contributed six points and seven rebounds, then scored on a layup with 2:13 left and found Hassan on the baseline again for a layup with 18.2 seconds remaining.

“Freddy was hot the whole game and I kept missing, so I got it to Freddy there,” Violett said of Hassan’s final basket. “I was hoping he could dunk that one, too. That dunk earlier was cool.”

With the Knights nursing a 54-52 lead, Hassan knew the importance of the play, especially since they had turned the ball over nine times in the second half.

“I just felt it would be better if we were up four and they had the ball,” Hassan said. “Especially with the turnovers we had. You can’t risk that, being up two and then turning it over again.

“No. 1 (Braedon Brown) was sparking them and he was shooting crazy. Our goal was just to shut him and his brother, No. 21 (Adam Brown), down. They were definitely their best players.”

Learning the Browns weren’t related and also aren’t related to another player named Joseph Brown, Hassan said, “We all thought they were triplets. I’ll let the guys know.”

Braeden Brown sank his final 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds left to close Belvidere North within 56-55, but Carlson made the first of two free throws for the final margin.

“Parker is kind of a glue guy for us — does all the dirty work,” Colombe said. “The kid’s a phenomenal rebounder, plays his heart out, and played most of the year with an injured hand and foot. He’s a warrior and team player.

“And Freddy? It’s coming around, and we still think he’s just scratching the surface — a talented kid who works real hard.”

Carlson, a four-year varsity player in both football and basketball, will play football in the fall for Wisconsin-Whitewater. He’s happy to be moving on after winning a regional for the first time.

And now, Kaneland also has a chance to set the program’s single-season record for wins. The Knights previously won 26 games in the 1961-62, 1981-82 and 2022-23 seasons.

“These seniors have had a great season, winning conference back to back, winning the Plano Christmas Tournament and regional and now going to a sectional final,” Colombe said. “None of these games have been easy, but we find ways to win.

“Hopefully, we can continue.”