The bandage above Katie Reutter’s right eye barely covered a multicolored bruise and a cut that will require stitches after Friday night’s 44-39 Rich South victory over Marian Catholic.
But there will be no complaints about flying elbows from the 6-foot-2-inch senior center. She will wear it as a badge of honor into Saturday night’s championship game at the Hillcrest Holiday Classic. Reutter left the court early in the second quarter, scoring no points and grabbing no rebounds.
When she returned just minutes after taking an elbow from Marian’s 6-3 junior center Maureen Simon, she was on a mission. Reutter scored a team-high 13 points to go along with six rebounds and two blocks to lead the Lady Stars (14-1) to the comeback win.
“I felt a little light-headed, but I tried not to think about it,” said Reutter, whose team avenged an earlier season loss to Marian at the Rich South Thanksgiving Tournament. “I knew my team needed me. I wanted to come back and show that we’re a team that’s ready to be recognized.”
Marian (9-3) could hardly argue. Trailing 33-32 with 4:57 remaining, Reutter intercepted a pass and fed Janecia Minter for a three-pointer with 4:31 left that gave Rich South its first lead. Reutter then scored her team’s next five points to maintain the lead. Rachel Reed (12 points) hit a fast-break layup with 37 seconds remaining to ice the game.
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Kandyce Green led Marian with 14 points but had only two in the second half.
Rich South will meet the host Hawks, who knocked off defending champ Sandburg, 53-51, thanks to some last-second heroics from Janelle Hughes (22 points, six rebounds). Hillcrest (12-1) built as much as an 11-point fist-half lead over the Eagles (10-5) before the stage was set for the thrilling finish.
Sandburg opened the third on a 13-3 tear, hitting 3-for-8 from three-point range to take their first lead of the game, 36-35 with 2:36 left. Neither team managed to lead by more than three the rest of the way.
The Eagles continued to bomb from long range, and Erika Nelson’s jumper with 2:03 left tied the game 51-51. Sandburg took the final possession, looking for a last chance to put the game away. But as the seconds ticked down, Hughes intercepted a pass at Sandburg’s free-throw line with five seconds left and drove the length of the court before dropping in a layup at the horn for the victory.
“I actually looked at the clock during the steal and when I was driving and saw two point three [seconds] left, I just put up the shot,” Hughes said. “I told the team we all had to have some heart. And to forget about our weakness or fatigue and play this one out.”
Teammate Sherry McCracklin added 18 points and eight rebounds for the Hawks, while Lindsey Krieger and Lauren Valenta each had 14 points for Sandburg.
Phil English.
Bloomington/Normal State Farm Classic: No. 11 Washington (9-3) had a two-point lead against Urbana after one quarter in a Class AA semifinal. But after Angelina Williams picked up her fourth foul midway through the second quarter and went to the bench, Washington was shut down. The Minutewomen were routed by Urbana 70-35.
“That was the worst beating I can remember taking in 13 years of coaching,” Washington coach Willie Byrd said.
Williams re-entered the game midway through the third quarter and led Washington with 17 points. Heidi Harnisch led Urbana (12-1) with 29 points.
Washington has struggled without guard Donne Conley in the lineup. Conley sprained her right knee two weeks ago, and Byrd said she’ll likely miss another two weeks of action.
Lisle: Timothy Christian went on a 23-1 run that started in late in the third quarter and stretched through most of the fourth quarter in a 52-26 win over Lisle (11-5). Barbie Heerdt scored 13 points for Timothy Christian (11-5), which advances to Saturday’s title game. . . . Alicia Groenendal’s 18 points were enough to lead Chicago Christian past Coal City 56-40 and into Saturday’s title game. . . . Brittany Lee lead a balanced Immacuate Conception (2-11) attack with 13 points in a 49-37 win over Westmont. . . . Wheaton Academy (13-3) shot 72 percent in the first half in a 65-32 rout of Montini. Brittany Long and Kaila Kamerlander each scored 12 points for Wheaton Academy.
Luther South: Megan Pierucci’s 21 points and six steals and Lauren Wilson’s 13 points sparked Mt. Assisi (8-3) to a 48-42 victory over Evergreen Park.
McHenry: St. Edward got 22 points from Kelly Hopkins to lead the Green Wave past Antioch 56-54 for third place.
Momence: Thornton Fractional South (5-6) downed South Newton 60-54 as Kelli Young put in 25 points, including nine of her squad’s 11 points in the extra session. Lauren Nakoff chipped in with 12 points and 11 assists and hit a layup at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. . . . Peotone blasted St. Anne 69-13 to advanced to one of Saturday’s semifinal games. Alisyn Rathje led Peotone (6-7) with 16 points.
Mother Guerin: Ashley Obrest and Margaret Gorski scored 22 and 19 points, respectively, for Elmwood Park in a 57-41 victory over St. Scholastica. . . . Mother Guerin rolled past Notre Dame 53-28 behind Lisa Filskov’s 13 points.
Mother McAuley: Ten Mother McAuley players scored, led by Bridget Boyce’s 20, and a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter to lead the No. 6 Mighty Macs past Barrington 64-50 in the title game. Barrington was led by Nicky Eason’s 28 points. . . . Meghan Murphy had 11 points as No. 12 Immaculate Heart of Mary cruised past Illiana Christian 56-33 for third place. Gina Hugelier and Krystal Hugelier each added 10 points for the Fighting Tigers (14-2) . . . Stephanie Magawan’s 17 points powered St. Benedict (4-12) past Willows 55-32.
Niles North/Maine East: Eileen Foley and Ashley Stein turned in 18 points each as Mundelein downed Niles West 60-32 in the championship.
Ridgewood: Despite getting dumped by Prosser 50-35, the hosts still won the tournament with a 2-1 record. Erica Love led Prosser with 14 points. . . . Lisa Williams scored 14 points to lead Addison Trail to a 45-30 win over U-High, and secure second place for the Blazers in the tournament.
St. Ignatius: St. Ignatius (10-8) secured the tournament title with their eighth win in a row, a 54-32 triumph over Queen of Peace. Nicole Wylie’s 16 points led 11 eleven Wolfpack players who scored. . . . Stephanie Petracek scored 20 points and Sarah McNicholas added 12 to lift Nazareth (10-7) over Thornridge 66-53. Zakasha Harvey led Thornridge (7-8) with 15 points. . . . Young (4-13) topped Chicago Latin 63-42 behind Alex Clinton’s 23 points. Lana Giersten had 18 points for Latin (8-8).
St. Viator: Caprice Smith collected 25 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks in Trinity’s 56-40 defeat of Leyden. Ciara Johnson added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Blazers (10-3). . . .
Warren: Carmel (10-5) bested Deerfield 41-30 behind Christine Martinson’s 16 points and seven rebounds. Meggie Eck scored 12 points for Deerfield (11-6). . . . Lake Forest’s (8-7) Katie Barr and Megan Reagan put in 13 points apiece in 52-42 win over Waukegan. . . . Despite falling to Grayslake 33-31, Warren (6-11) clinched the tournament for the first time since 1997 with a 3-2 record. Tiffany Tietze had 18 points for Grayslake (11-4), including the game-winner with nine seconds left.
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