When it comes to crunch time, it’s a given that any of the state’s final 16 teams has a go-to player to rely on. Morris is, perhaps, the exception.
Sophomore Adrianne Leschewski, junior Katy Kukman and senior Laney Pellegrini combined for 19 of their team’s 22 fourth-quarter points as the Lady Redskins, who built a big lead early, hung on before putting away Thornwood 61-53 Monday night at the Lincoln-Way supersectional.
“Our post players want it, and (Kukman) wants it,” said first-year Morris coach Dave Locke. “They believe in themselves and they make things happen when they have to. They knew they’d get the job done.”
Morris (28-2) will make its second trip in three years to the quarterfinals, meeting Sandburg on Friday.
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The Lady Redskins built as much as a 14-point first-half lead, dominating the boards in outrebounding the Thunderbirds 23-10 to lead 29-15 at the half. Thornwood (20-9) got back on track in the third as Tameka Harris (13 points) scored nine points in a 15-2 run midway through the quarter.
The Thunderbirds were within 51-48 with 2:15 remaining before the Lady Redskins took over. The trio of Leschewski (17 points, 15 rebounds), Kukman (17 points, six rebounds) and Pellegrini (20 points, seven rebounds) combined to score the next eight points, including six of eight free throws, to put the game on ice.
“We knew what we had to do,” Leschewski said. “And we knew we could win. It’s in our hearts.”
ESL Lincoln 70, Taylorville 67: Rita Adams scored 35 points as East St. Louis Lincoln (26-2) won in overtime. Taylorville (31-2), last year’s state runner-up to Loyola, lost despite a 32-point effort by Allison Curtin.
Quincy 50, Peoria Central 31: Ruth Kipping had 27 points and 13 rebounds as Quincy (25-4) rolled into the quarterfinals. The Blue Devils will face East St. Louis Lincoln. Peoria finished 22-10.