girls state semi-finals

Class 3A semi-finals in Normal, IL (Redbird Arena)
BRONCOS REPEAT TITLE RUN...
In the first game of the girls semi-finals put Montini and Springfield on the center stage. From the tip, Montini didn't waste time putting itself in position to defend the Class 3A girls basketball state title as they stretched out to a 17-0 first quarter attack.

"We came out with a lot of energy, but I don't know where it went the rest of the game," said Broncos coach Jason Nichols, whose team beat the Senators by 17 in a semifinal last season. "We can't expect to do that against Hillcrest or Marshall in the state title game and come out with a win."

The Broncos went on to win 55-39 and they will face Hillcrest in a rematch.

T-E-A-M WORK by Hillcrest!!!

Hillcrest victory over Marshall came about through an old, famous concept - TEAMWORK. The Lady Hawks demonstrated this term by its definition, cooperative effort by the members of a group or team to achieve a common goal, in order to advance to their second consecutive state title game with a 65-43 victory over Dorothy Gater's Commandos.

Teamwork started with senior Yolanda De La Torre, juniors Shannise Heady and Jahmia Phillips who all ran into foul trouble in the fourth quarter, so coach Maniatis' had to turn to his bench to step up. This isn't uncommon with the Lady Hawks 2011 playoff run, but never like this. One player who is not shy about coming off the bench and stepping up is junior guard Karlisa Harris who knocked down 14 points, but her prescience on the court was the antidote the team needed.

“That’s who we are,” junior Karlisa Harris said. “We don’t let things get in our heads. We just play hard.”

Others who stepped up where Dana Gettis, Brittney Wilson and Lorielle Little. Little not only gave them that big body on the floor but she accounted for four big blocks in her 7 minutes of play.

But, those that know, the guard play of Samirah Ali is w-a-y larger than her current height. She found a way to score 13 points in the first and many of those came from challenging the bigs of Marshall in the paint. And the lone senior, De La Torre, who picked up her fourth foul played basically the duration of the contest and never was whistled again. Coach Maniatis kept her on the floor knowing and recognizing her ability and intelligence of the game.



“She’s our senior leader,” Maniatis said. “We knew she was going to put it all on the line. And we knew that each one of the other four players on that floor were going to do everything to protect her and keep her on the floor.”

De La Torre said to us after the game “I’m the senior. I’ve got to be the leader. Being on the bench wasn’t helping.”

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be down here,” Hillcrest coach John Maniatis said. “Our young ladies realize how difficult this road and journey has been. We’ve battled through the Rich Souths, the Morgan Parks and the Galesburgs, and now Marshall. Each one of them presented a challenge to us in preparation for the challenge we have at hand with Montini.”

When asked during the post-game press conference if playing Montini a year ago would help the Hawks in search of the Class 3A title, all four players answered unanimously “Yes!”

I guess we'll see tomorrow at approximately 2p as the Lady Hawks face the Broncos' again.

CLASS 4A semi-finals in Normal, IL (Redbird Arena)
Zee-Bees sting Maine South and move on to finals

Behind the hot hands and defensive play of Zion-Benton's' forward Juanita Robinson, they go on to finals in the Class 4A against Bolingbrook with a 45-37 victory. "My team needed me out there and I tried to help the best I can," said Robinson, who knocked down a game-high 18 points. "It felt good (discussing the victory)." This is the Zee-Bee's first state title game and we'll see if the big stage will hinder their performance.

1 vs. 2

Now for the MAIN EVENT of the state tournament…. this game has been brewing for over 12 months and it comes in the semi-final game and NOT the final game where Whitney, 2010 runner up takes on their nemesis, Bolingbrook…. This contest lived up to its billing plus a special coach was spotted in the stands, Tennessee's' very own Pat Summitt watching her future player Ariel Massengale.

Coach Summitt with the Massengale family

The fast-pace game gave the Dolphins the early lead in which they held it until the fourth quarter where point guard Chanise Jenkins made 1 of 2 free throws with 1:07 left to play in the regulation. Shortly afterwards, the Raiders made 5 quick points on a huge 3-pointer from junior Allie Hill then a layup from UConn recruit Morgan Tuck. This sent the game into overtime tied at 45. In overtime, it was the other Tuck… the Illinois-bound forward Taylor Tuck who made one key free throw with 1.7 seconds to play and a purposely missed second one to secure the 50-49 victory.

In retrospect, Young free-throw shooting wasn't nearly as strong as it normally is. The Dolphins shot 6-for-16 including 1-for-4 down the stretch of the game.
"What we were trying to do was there, but we didn't execute in key parts at the end of the game," Young coach Corry Irvin said. "…We haven't missed that many free throws all year."

This is the Raiders sixth straight state title game and possibly their third in a row championship. The only thing standing between the Raiders third championship is the Zee-Bees. Game on Saturday night at 815p.

The Raiders were led in scoring by Morgan Tuck who had 10 points and 9 boards. Young was led by Jenkins who finished with 11 points.

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