Maine West’s Keara Markworth only scored two points Monday, but they were the most important ones of her team’s game.
Following a missed field-goal attempt, Markworth grabbed the rebound and calmly sank a buzzer-beating two-pointer to lift the No. 11-ranked Warriors over No. 12 Evanston 39-37 in a Niles North sectional semifinal.
“(Coach Derril Kipp) always says to crash the board and we did,” Markworth said.
Carly Zilligan led Maine West (23-7), last season’s state runner-up, with 14 points, including four three-pointers. Evanston (21-7) was paced by Michigan-bound Pollyana Johns (15 points) and Fuchsia Forrester (11 points).
There were six lead changes and four ties in the fourth quarter, with Johns hitting two free throws for a 37-35 Evanston 37-35 lead with 2 minutes 10 seconds remaining. But Maine West’s Tracy Rateike tied the score at 37-37 with two free throws at the 1:39 mark.
In the other game at Niles North, No. 7 Glenbrook South (27-3) ended Resurrection’s season with a 66-64 overtime victory. Resurrection’s Erin Stafford’s three-pointer late in the fourth quarter sent the game into overtime tied at 59-59. Once there, Glenbrook freshman Dana Leonard nailed five of seven free throws to secure the victory. Leonard finished with 29 points including four three-pointers.
Schaumburg: Ashley Berggren (21 points, 10 rebounds) scored the game’s first nine points as No. 14 Barrington (22-8) handled No. 15 Buffalo Grove 54-48. . . . No. 4 Hersey (25-1) edged Fremd 54-51 as Corrine Vossel tallied 20 points and 16 rebounds.
Highland Park: No. 1 Stevenson (30-0) rolled over Lake Zurich 71-34 behind the Catchings sisters. Sophomore Tamika led the attack by scoring 24 of her 28 points in the first half, while younger sister, freshman Tauja, added 18 points.
“We had to business to take care of,” Stevenson coach Frank Mattucci said. “We did some nice things defensively. Offensively, I would have liked to see us make more outside shots.”
Lake Zurich (21-6) was paced by Nicole Vasey’s 11 points.
In the other game, Sarah Weiss scored 18 of her game-high 33 points in the first half as No. 5 Libertyville defeated Warren 78-46. Julie Minuskin led Warren (20-7) with 19 points.
Riverside-Brookfield: No. 13 York (23-7) topped Immaculate Heart of Mary 69-55 as Akisha Franklin scored 22 points. Priscilla Trevino finished with 21 points. York jumped out to an 11-3 advantage and led the entire game.
IHM (14-11) received 24 points from Shannon O’Boye.
In the other game, Lyons (22-6) topped Willowbrook 61-48 behind 13-point outings from Lashonda Clay and Kelly Maley.
Oak Forest: Julie McGill finished with 24 points and nailed a pair of free throws late in the fourth quarter to lead No. 20 Sandburg (26-4) over Oak Forest 47-43. Monica Belsky added 11 points in the victory while Oak Forest was led by Nora Hogueisson’s 20.
In the other game, Jameelah Morgan (eight points) hit a pull-up jumper at the buzzer from 12 feet to lift Bloom (26-2) past Hinsdale Central 57-55. Theia Hudson added 15 points and 14 rebounds, while Tameelah Morgan and Tish Mailloux finished with 14 points apiece.
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Autumn Braddock (17 points), and Jenny Pavich and Amy Wardle (12 apiece) led the Hinsdale Central attack.
CLASS A
Immaculate Conception: Lindsay Feris scored 18 points and Kathy Greenfield added 15 as Westmont (21-7) cruised past Luther North. . . . Montini (21-10) rolled pst Holy Trinity 55-11 behind Katie Guilfoile’s 17 points.