If first-year Stagg coach Brian Ade had his druthers, the Chargers would play every game facing a halftime deficit.
“I just think it’s easier to play when you’re down than with a lead,” he said. “You can make your adjustments and, if they work, you look good. And if they don’t, you were losing anyway.”
Ade’s theory couldn’t have been more on the money than in Friday’s 65-49 victory over Thornton at the Hillcres tournament. Stagg erased a 32-24 halftime deficit with a 20-2 run in the third quarter before cruising to the semifinal win.
The victory puts Stagg (12-2), holder of three third-place finishes at Hillcrest, in its first championship game. The Chargers take on No. 4 Marian Catholic in the final.
Heather King led a balanced attack with 17 points and 14 rebounds, and Amy Hyerczyk had 15 points and Erin Neiheisel 14.
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Thornton (9-3) jumped to the eight-point lead at the break, scoring 16 points off Stagg turnovers. Pamela Vaughn caused the Chargers fits with 10 points and five steals, while Ayesha Neasley (11 points, 10 rebounds) scored eight points in the paint.
But that’s when Stagg made its adjustment, using a 1-3-1 trap to begin the second half. That defense forced four straight turnovers in the first 2 1/2 minutes of the third quarter, keying the game-breaking 20-2 run. Stagg turned nine turnovers into 18 points in the pivotal period.
In the other semifinal, Mary Basic scored 16 of her 18 points in the second half as Marian Catholic (13-1) fended off Sandburg 52-49.
Erika Nelson scored six of her team-high 17 points in the third quarter to stake Sandburg (8-6) to a 38-37 lead heading into the final quarter.
Marian Catholic scored six straight points and led 46-40 following a Basic jumper with 3:20 to go.
Nelson’s three from the top of the key brought Sandburg within one at 50-49 with four seconds left. Basic, who finished 6-of-6 from the free-throw line in the fourth, drained a pair with two seconds on the clock.
Lauren Lacey paced the Spartans with 23 points.
Henry Del Valle.
At Wheaton North
Even with one cylinder missing, Hersey continued to motor along.
Beth Lucas scored 20 points, Julie Mantilla added 18 and Emilie Hirt had 17 as the Huskies (9-4) shook off the absence of starting guard Shana Lieberman (sprained left ankle) and advanced to their first title-game appearance in their four years at the Wheaton North tournament with a 74-42 whipping of surprise semifinalist St. Francis.
St. Francis (13-3), the only Class A team in the tournament, trailed 30-26 with 1:30 gone in the third quarter when Hersey went on a 21-4 run to blow open the game, holding the Spartans to just two field goals over a span of nearly 7 1/2 minutes.
Mantilla did her share by blocking 12 shots and grabbing 12 rebounds. Hirt hit three three-pointers in the 21-4 run, including consecutive three-pointers, to close the third quarter and open the fourth.
Amy Palash led St. Francis with 10 points.
In the final, Hersey will face top seed Glenbrook South (15-0), which beat Schaumburg 44-31.
Danielle Nabolotny led the No. 5 Titans with 19 points and Sara Stutz added 10 to pick up the slack for Pam Findlay, who was held to a career low of two points.
Shay Green led Schaumburg (8-6) with 11 points.
Bob Skolnik.
Pickerington (Ohio): Deerfield Beach (Fla.) handed No. 3 Neuqua Valley its first loss of the season with a 65-52 decision. Brittanie Taylor-James’ 13 points led Neuqua (11-1).
Peoria Manual: No. 6 Hope (13-1) got 14 points from Shuntae Roberison, including eight in the final quarter, to hold off Moline 45-40 for a semifinal victory. . . . In the other semifinal, No. 11 Marshall needed overtime to get a 54-53 victory over Champaign Centennial (13-1). Lashonda Grant led the Commandos (9-2) with 21 points, while Janesha Washington added 19. Jacquay Holmes finished with 10 points, including four of Marshall’s six points in the extra session.
Mother McAuley: No. 7 Trinity (11-3) trounced St. Benedict 63-35 behind Caprice Smith’s 26 points. . . . Latasha Watt and Dominique Headd put in 18 and 15 points, respectively, in Hyde Park’s 51-34 win over Illiana Christian. Headd and Watt scored 19 points each as Hyde Park (12-3) won a second time, rolling past St. Benedict 77-47. . . . Jackie Waller’s 13 points sparked Mother McAuley to a 64-35 rout of Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Mighty Macs (7-6) won again, 44-17 over Illiana Christian, using Shannon Dugan’s 15 points.
Benet/Naperville North: Kaitlin McInerney and Chandra Smith scored 15 points each for No. 9 Benet (12-1) in a 51-34 victory over Glenbard West. . . . Krystal Hugelier tallied 39 points and 14 rebounds as No. 12 York (12-1) cruised past Proviso East 73-55. . . . Michelle LaHam scored 23 points as Naperville North (5-6) rolled past Providence 59-32. . . . West Chicago (8-4) tipped Wheaton Warrenville South 40-37 as Magen Rogers and Kori Flagg had nine points each.
Chicagoland Challenge: No. 14 Loyola (14-2) used Maggie Duggan’s 19 points to defeat Lake Park 51-30. . . . Barrington (7-7) defeated Downers Grove South 53-38 behind Danielle Tinkoff’s 19 points.
Morton: Aubrey Hampton netted 28 points as No. 16 Oak Park pounded Reavis 71-29. The Huskies (15-1) used a full-court press to jump out to 41-0 lead with 4:58 left in second quarter. . . . Kelly Crowley’s 18 points lifted Addison Trail over Morton 61-53. Trailing 29-27 at the half, Crowley scored half of her points during a 13-0 run to give the Blazers (5-9) a 40-31 lead with 2:35 left in the third quarter.
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Warren: The host Blue Devils toppled No. 17 Lake Forest 52-42 behind Amy Wessel’s 14 points–all scored during a 14-0 run to pull Warren from a one-point deficit in the final quarter. Trailing 34-33 with 4:59 left in the game, Wessel scored 11 points in the next 57 seconds and added three more to give Warren a commanding 47-34 lead. Katie Barr paced Lake Forest (12-3) with 14 points.
St. Viator: Kelly Nolan scored 11 points as No. 18 St. Viator (9-1) ran past Wheeling 68-40. . . . Bethany Conrad’s 13 points led St. Charles North past Julian 58-24. . . . Lindsay Schrader had 23 points as Bartlett (10-2) flew past Good Counsel 79-41.
Niles North: The host Vikings (13-3) won twice, 66-35 over Simeon and 58-27 over Marian Central, as Natasha Williams totaled 33 points. . . . After defeating Highland Park 58-31, Mundelein (7-13) used Beth Rosendahl’s game-high 26 points to beat Niles West 56-44. . . . Lacey Simpson’s 20 points gave Zion-Benton a 54-51 edge over Rolling Meadows. Dominique Moses added 18 points in that game and scored 22 more as the Zee-Bees (7-9) defeated Simeon 57-49.