Class 4A sectional semifinal at Niles West
Records: New Trier 29-4, Von Steuben 22-9
Halftime: New Trier 20-15
Summary: Von Steuben trailed by as many as eight points in the third quarter but rallied to turn this sectional semifinal into a fourth-quarter thriller. Junior center Shonte Clay’s short pullup jumper with 6 mintues 59 seconds left in the fourth quarter pulled the Panthers within 28-27. New Trier junior guard Mollie Quirke answered with a short jumper and dished to senior forward Maeve Campbell for a 10-footer to put the Trevians up 32-27 with 4:20 remaining. Von Steuben would close to within one once more and had three shots at a tie or take the lead lead in the final 40 seconds but turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions. Quirke nailed two free throws with 5.6 seconds remaining for a 37-33 lead. Romeshia Taylor’s three-pointer for Von Steuben as time expired accounted for the final score. New Trier will face Loyola on Thursday with a berth in the Elite Eight at stake.
Top performers: New Trier–F Abbey Schmitt 10 points; Quirke 8 points, four assists; G Lauren Mathy 7 rebounds. Von Steuben–Clay 14 points, 13 rebounds; R. Taylor 8 points.
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The bonus: “We always try to simulate that situation in practice, to try and get used to it,” said Quirke of her late free throws. “Of course, it’s never really like that. But you like to be in that position.”