Morgan Park coach Kedonica Taylor didn’t mince words about what’s next.
“Young is the ultimate win for us to get,” Taylor said after Thursday’s Public League semifinals in girls basketball at Westinghouse. “Winning city is one of our major goals of the season.”
Morgan Park has wins this season against state powers Montini, Benet and Fremd, but the Mustangs have been especially eager to play archrival Young.
The Mustangs will get that chance after a 60-54 victory against Simeon. The win sets up a showdown against the Young for the Public League title at 2 p.m. Sunday at the University of Chicago’s Ratner Center.
Young has won the last seven Public League titles, a streak that includes wins against the Mustangs in four of the last five finals.
First, Morgan park (23-2) faced a battle against up-and-coming Simeon (20-7). The Wolverines, fresh off a rout of Kenwood in Saturday’s quarterfinals, led 31-28 after Ganette Chism’s basket early in the third quarter.
The Mustangs ended the third on an 11-2 spurt, which included three steals by Destiny Harden and five points by Deja Cage, to lead 46-37 going into the fourth.
Simeon missed two chances to make it a one-possession game late in the fourth.
“We were hungry and came out with a lot of energy in the first half,” said Jada Blow, who had 18 points and five assists for the Wolverines. “But we beat ourselves with some mistakes in the second half.”
The Mustangs received a game-high 20 points from Deja Cage. Cachet Johnson added 16. Destiny Harden tallied seven points, 10 rebounds and six steals, while Gabrielle Cooper finished with seven points, 1a1 boards and five assists
Usually a big presence on the boards, Harden had three steals in a five-possession string late in the third quarter that shifted the momentum toward the Mustangs.
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“We came out strong in the third quarter, for that’s our quarter and I had some steals, but wasn’t able to finish but my teammates did,” Harden said.
Beecher 59, Tri-Point 29: Taylor Johnson’s 23 points sparked Beecher (23-7, 12-0) to an undefeated slate in the RVC and its 38 consecutive conference win.
Richards 45, Evergreen Park 43: Sydni Tears and Takesa Powell (16 points each) powered Richards (16-4, 8-3 SSC Red).
Lincoln-Way West 74, Thornridge 43: Courtney O’Donnell (16 points) led West (19-4, 9-3 SWSC Red).
Montini 58, Mother McAuley 29: Colleen Liston and Tara O’Malley (9 points apiece) paced McAuley (16-11) in the GCAC Red semifinal.
Argo 85, Eisenhower 54: Chatori Tyler (34 points) and Tadriana Heard (12 points, 12 rebounds) propelled Argo (18-7, 10-2 SSC Red).
Lincoln-Way North 62, Lincoln-Way Central 39: Riley Gaynor (16 points) and Lanie Hicks (1,000th career point) led North (22-3, 10-1 SWSC Red).
Resurrection 46, Queen of Peace 42: Jovanna Martinucci (9 steals, 4 assists) and Kara Shimko had 15 points each for Queen of Peace (16-10) in the GCAC Red consolation semifinal.
Morgan Park Academy 63, Catalyst-Maria 35: Isis Rodriguez poured in 35 points for MPA (15-6).
Crete-Monee 58, Bloom 39: Shamarie Hale racked up 26 points and 10 rebounds for Crete-Monee (7-10, 5-4 Southland).
Chicago Christian 46, Timothy Christian 32: Emily Bulthuis (17 points) lifted Chicago Christian (7-18, 6-6 MSC East).
T.F. South 70, Tinley Park 67: India Pierson (20 points, 11 rebounds) keyed T.F. South (8-14, 3-8 SSC Blue).
Thornton 65, Thornridge 39: Tyesha Riggins scored 21 points for Thornton (8-13, 5-7 SWSC Red).
Illinois Lutheran 44, Donovan 40: Kassie Kernagis (11 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists) guided Illinois Lutheran (4-17, 2-10 RVC).
Shepard 47, Elmwood Park 46: Cassidy McCarthy and Kylie Radz (9 points apiece) aided Shepard (2-24).
Boys Basketball
Lemont 60, Oak Forest 50: P.J. Pipes netted 28 points and Nick Wisz (6 rebounds) added 15 for Lemont (13-9, 6-3 SSC Blue).
St. Viator 52, Joliet Catholic 50: Jalen Jackson and Jared Lenoir led JCA (16-4, 3-3 ESCC) with 11 points apiece.
Men’s Basketball
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Lewis 75, Rockhurst (Mo.) 71: Max Strus (23 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists) boosted Lewis (16-6, 8-4 GLVC East)
Moraine Valley 76, Lake County 72 (OT): Luke Hook had 19 points and eight rebounds for Moraine (11-12, 6-3 Illinois Skyway).
South Suburban 114, Robert Morris JV 80: Jalen Myers (34 points, 5 rebounds) boosted South Suburban (23-2).
Women’s Basketball
Lewis 81, Rockhurst (Mo.) 78: Mariyah Brawner-Henley (29 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists) posted her 65th career double-double – the second most in Division II history – to pace Lewis (21-1, 12-0 GLVC East).
Men’s Volleyball
St. Ambrose (Iowa) 25-25-25, St. Xavier 20-18-15: Dan O’Keefe registered nine kills and Sean Barry added six for St. Xavier (0-5, 0-2 CCAC). Barry also became the fifth player in school history to record 400 lifetime kills.
Bob Narang is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown. Freelance writer Josh Krockey contributed to this story.