Severe energy shortage

North Boone’s Melanie Krawczyk guards Marian Central’s Constance Melchionna as she goes up for a shot during the fourth quarter of Monday’s IHSA Class 2A North Boone Regional quarterfinals in Poplar Grove. Marian Central lost, 48-32. (Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com)

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POPLAR GROVE – Marian Central’s high-energy defensive style is designed to create havoc and make life hard on its opponents. Unfortunately it also had an adverse effect on Marian’s offense Monday night.

North Boone wore down a tired Marian team and took control in the second half on its way to a 48-32 victory in the IHSA Class 2A North Boone Regional quarterfinals. The ’Canes shot less than 20 percent for the game and were only 3 of 25 from the field in the second half.

“I could tell we didn’t have any legs anymore,” Marian coach Jackie Budmayr said. “I can’t ask anything more, though, when they are going that hard and the shots aren’t falling.”

Even with the poor shooting performance, fourth-seeded Marian (11-15) stayed close in the first half because of its defense. The ’Canes allowed only six field goals to the fifth-seeded Vikings, and North Boone (11-18) was unable to capitalize at the foul line, shooting 6 of 20 in the first half.

North Boone led by as many as 10 points in the second quarter, but Marian cut it to a two-point deficit with an 8-0 run in the final minute of the half. Shannon Wuensch found Susan Piggot for a transition layup with two seconds left to make it an 18-16 game at halftime.

The Vikings quickly ended Marian’s hopes for a comeback as Megan Johnson scored the first 10 points of the second half. The ’Canes twice cut the lead to seven points in the second half, but North Boone used a 12-0 run in the fourth quarter to effectively put the game out of reach.

“We needed to handle that pressure or we were going to be in trouble tonight,” North Boone coach Ed Mulholland said. “I thought we did a really good job of handling it.”

Piggot led the ‘Canes with eight points, and Constance Melchionna chipped in with seven. Johnson had 11 points to lead North Boone, which advanced to play Rockford Lutheran in the regional semifinals Wednesday.

Despite losing two key players to knee injuries during the season, Marian managed 11 victories. It is the second consecutive season the ‘Canes have improved on their win total after finishing with three wins in 2010 and seven in 2011.

The hope is for that trend to continue.

“We’re rebuilding the whole Marian basketball program,” Melchionna said. “Hopefully now they’ll be able to do some really great things in the future.”

Rockford Christian 60, Harvard 22: Rockford Christian jumped out to a 22-point lead at halftime and advanced to play St. Edward in the regional semifinals on Wednesday.

Randi Blazer led the Hornets (1-27) with eight points while Abby Linhart had six points, including two three-pointers.

“They’re not ready for it to end, they’d come back tomorrow as big of a grind as it’s been,” Harvard coach John Lally said. “There were moments tonight they could have laid down, but they didn’t. It’s the Harvard way.”