Montini breaks through for 3A title

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

NORMAL – Whitney Adams scored 20 points, and Alison Seberger added 18 as Montini beat Hillcrest, 64-53, in the Class 3A title game Saturday at Redbird Arena for its first IHSA girls basketball championship.

The Broncos (33-2) used a barrage of three-pointers, hitting 12 of 31 as Adams and Seberger combined for 30 points on threes.

The Hawks (28-4) dominated the early stages, but the Broncos rallied from a 20-11 second-quarter deficit and claimed a 33-31 halftime lead on Seberger’s buzzer-beating three.

Montini never trailed again, and its lead hit double-digits on an Adams bank shot with 3:12 left in the third. Whitney Holloway added 12 points for the winners. Shannise Heady paced Hillcrest with 18 points, Uniquah Hampton and Samirah Ali added 14 and 11 points, respectively.

In the Class 3A third-place game, Zahna Medley scored 17 points, and Kasi Korza added 15 points and 11 rebounds to lead Springfield to a 65-41 victory against Oswego.

The Senators (32-3) never trailed and took advantage of 30 turnovers to outscore the Panthers, 30-3, off mistakes.

Oswego (29-4) was led by Paige Harmon’s 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Brittany Collier added 13.

It was the second state appearance for Springfield, which finished fourth in 2009. Oswego, which defeated Johnsburg in the Elgin Supersectional, never had been to state.

CLASS 4A

Round three went to Bolingbrook.

The Raiders (29-1) captured their second consecutive Class 4A championship with a 60-50 victory against Chicago Whitney Young.

The game was deadlocked at 47-47 with 2:12 to play before the Raiders hit 9 of 10 free throws to pull away in the large-school finale.

Kiana Johnson led the Dolphins (28-3) with 18 points while Janee Thompson added 15.

Bolingbrook has played in five consecutive state championship games – the past three against Young. The Dolphins beat the Raiders in 2008.

In the Class 4A third-place game, Tricia Liston led Fenwick to a 55-51 come-from-behind victory against Hersey.

Liston scored 40 points, including her team’s final seven. She hit 7 of 8 free throw shots in the final 3:35 as the Friars (32-4) rallied from a 51-48 deficit.

Liston’s 40 points fell one short of the state finals mark of 41 set in 1983 by East St. Louis’ Tina Hutchinson.

Megan Rogowski led Hersey (27-9) with 24 points.

The state trophy is Fenwick’s first since a 2007 championship.