Immaculate Heart of Mary girls` basketball team should have figured it wasn`t going to be its night.
Three of its players, including starting point guard Andrea Stras, came down with the measles before Monday night`s Class AA supersectional at Downers Grove North, then Lockport raced to a 16-0 lead en route to a 53-48 victory and a spot in the state quarterfinals at Champaign.
The Porters (28-2) had opened a 28-16 halftime lead before IHM (25-4)
could regroup. Lockport`s Gloria Robinson scored 10 of her game-high 16 points in the first half and Therese Piazza had 8 of her 14 in the first half. Jackie Meyers added 11.
More Top Picks Best Large Print Planners For Low Vision
IHM, led by Michelle Savage (12 points) and Danielle Grill (11), rallied to narrow the margin to 38-32 entering the fourth quarter, but never got closer than the final tally.
At De Kalb–Wheaton North (27-1) outlasted York 52-47 to post its 27th consecutive victory. Denise Lawrence led the Falcons with 19 points and 6 rebounds. Sandy Eberhardt added 18 points for Wheaton North, which led 40-27 after three quarters. Natalaie Perrino had 13 points and 8 rebounds for York
(25-4).
At Cary-Grove–Lisa Foss, who has scored more than 2,000 points in her career and leads the state in scoring with a 35-point average, collected 37 points to power Lake Zurich (27-2) to a 60-46 victory over Rockford East. Becky Balistriere had 20 points and Shanta Sowell 18 for Rockford East (19-9), which trailed 25-19 at the half and 46-36 entering the final quarter. Lake Zurich, which is making its first Downstate appearance, plays defending Class AA champion Marshall at 10:30 a.m. Friday.
At Sandburg–Richards (23-5) earned its third straight supersectional crown with a 53-52 verdict over Thornwood (19-12). Michelle Reid and Kate Webber scored 14 points apiece and Chrissy Pipikios added 10 for Richards, which opened a 39-19 halftime lead. Yolanda Irby scored 14 of her game-high 31 points in the fourth quarter to lead a Thornwood rally. The Thunderbirds narrowed the gap to 53-52 in the final 12 seconds and had the ball twice, but failed to score each time.
At Salem–East St. Louis Lincoln (27-1) built a 34-20 halftime lead and cruised past Mt. Vernon 60-36. Aremelder Johnson and Julie Cole scored 16 points apiece for the winners. Susan Smith had 15 points for Mt. Vernon
(26-3).
At Peoria Woodruff–Peoria Manual (24-3), which upset No. 1 Peoria Central for a sectional title last week, defeated Champaign Centennial 55-35 to advance Downstate. Carla McGhee had 16 points and Rissa Taylor 10 to lead the Rams. Centennial closed at 24-7.
Class A
At Teutopolis–The No. 1-ranked Wooden Shoes (28-1), runner-up in the Class A finals the past two years, eliminated Tolono Unity 54-28. Doris Carie (19 points), Beth Niebrugge (12 points) and Sandy Braun (8 points, 14 blocked shots) led the way. Kelly Throneburg had 11 points for Tolono (26-3). The victory put Teutopolis in the Elite Eight for the fourth straight year. The Wooden Shoes` boys team won the Class A state title two weeks ago.
At Hoopeston-East Lynn–Unbeaten Ford Central, led by Amy Houtzel (23 points, 11 rebounds), Julie Kies (18 points, 10 rebounds) and Kristy Jackson
(14 points), overwhelmed Jamaica 81-52 for its 25th victory. Kathy Nees had 18 points and 9 assists for Jamaica (24-4).