By Drake Skleba
For the Bugle
Two of the best girls high school basketball teams in Illinois went to war with each otheR for 48 minute, in the fourth and final quarterfinal of the 2018 Montini Holiday Tournament. The undefeated Vikings of Fremd (17-0) and the Redwings of Benet Academy (16-3), gave the near-capacity crowd in Lombard a game they will never forget.
In the third and final overtime, Fremd sophomore, Ruthie Montella (12 points) put the Vikings up 54-51with a pair of free throws with 1:18 left in the period.
Redwing junior, Kendall Holmes (14 points) responded by burying her fourth three-point bomb of the game to tie the score at 54-54 with 1:12 left.
With 47.3 seconds remaining Fremd junior Oliva Hill’s (20 points) old fashioned three-point play proved to be the game-winner.
In the first half, the Redwings missed 15 of their first 19 shots from the field and trailed 22-12 at halftime. Through three quarters the Redwings missed 21 of their 27 shots and trailed 26-19.
The fourth quarter was taken over by Benet senior guard, Clara Prasse.
Prasse would lead the Redwings with 19 points to go along with two assists, five rebounds and five steals.
During the second overtime, Redwing senior Ashley Konkle (six points) put on a block party with three, huge blocked shots.
“We thought we had this won a couple of times today,” Benet coach Joe Kilbride said. “Things just didn’t go our way. For three quarters, we just couldn’t make any of our shots. Clara (Prasse) and Kendall (Holmes), were outstanding for us tonight.
“The girls are devastated by this loss. I am so proud of the way they battled. An outstanding game, played by two outstanding teams!”
OSWEGO EAST HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT DAY 2
Final Four bound Steelwomen hold off Sycamore
Joliet Central (11-4), behind a 15-point performance from junior Allasha Alexander rolled past Sycamore 55-45 in the quarterfinal game Thursday. Armoni Strickland and Jalysa Stokes each scored nine points, while Harmony Burrell added eight points for the Steelwomen.
With the win, the Steelwomen will meet Oswego (11-3) in a 2:30 p.m. semifinal game, at Oswego East.
Central jumped out to an 18-10 first quarter lead and took a 28-20 lead into halftime.
Sycamore (10-5) was led by 6-foot junior Kylie Fuerbach, who tallied a game-high 20 points. Freshman Ella Shipley added 13 points for the Spartans.
Porters roll past short-handed Wildcats
Playing again without their leading scorer Kachae Donald, Plainfield Central (11-5) could not handle the red-hot Porters of Lockport (7-10) Thursday.
Led by senior Elena Knebel (11 points), 6-foot-3 Jenna Cotter (10 points) and junior Sawyer Hollatz (10 points) the Porters held off the Wildcats for a 47-38 quarterfinal victory.
The Porters led 27-16 at halftime and extend the lead to 39-23 after three quarters.
Led by Annaliese Griffin (20 points) the Wildcats would rally in the fourth quarter. A pair of fourth quarter buckets, by Hollatz and Knebel, would hold off Plainfield Central, for the victory.
The Porters will face Lincoln-Way West (11-3), at 1 on Friday in a semifinal battle at Oswego East
Panthers big third quarter ousts Naperville North
Oswego (11-3) would lead Naperville North 22-19 at the half, in their quarterfinal contest Thursday.
Led by McKenna Engler (12 points) and Jenna Rogers (10 points), the Panthers would outscore the Huskies 19-5 in the third quarter, for a 41-24 lead, after three.
Naperville North (7-7) rallied behind sophomore Greta Kampschroder (19 points) but fall short losing 49-41.
With the quarterfinal win, the Panthers advance to a Friday afternoon 2:30 p.m. semifinal contest, with Joliet Central (11-4).
Lincoln-Way West out-shoots Oswego East 84-77 in OT
In the best game of the tournament thus far Lincoln-Way West’s Taylor Gugliuzza and Oswego East’s Cristine Corpuz put on a show in their overtime quarterfinal game Thursday.
West (10-3) jumped out to an 18-10 first quarter lead as Gugliuzza and Corpuz, each scored just three points. Gugliuzza picked up 11 second quarter points while Corpuz added three more points as the Warriors led the Wolves, 41-32 at halftime.
Corpuz exploded for 10 third quarter points to give the Wolves the lead, 53-52 after three quarters.
In the fourth quarter, Gugliuzza, outscored Corpuz 7-6 and the two teams went to overtime, tied at 71.
Gugliuzza took over the game in the overtime period scoring 10 of the 13 Warrior points and led West to the 84-77 overtime victory. Gugiuzza would finish with a game-high 34 points.
Tara Gugliuzza scored 17 points and Tara Hastings chipped in 13 points for the victorious Warriors.
Corpuz would lead the Wolves with 27 points. Melia Perry added 11 points for East (6-9) while Chyna Scott scored 10 points.
OSWEGO EAST CONSOLATION
Mustangs, Lueken rally past Yorkville
After falling in surprising fashion to Lockport on Wednesday, Downers Grove South (9-4) rallied past Yorkville 48-40 Thursday. The West Suburban Gold co-leaders were led by seniors Holly Lueken (17 points) and Maggie Greco (16 points).
The Mustangs trailed the Foxes 29-19 at halftime.
Lueken hit a pair of long-range treys and scored eight third quarter points to give the Mustangs 33-32 lead after three quarters. Lueken added three, fourth quarter buckets and Greco, nailed three crucial free-throws, down the stretch. to wrap up the Mustangs’ win.
Yorkville (5-11) was led by junior Lexi Sandon who led the Foxes with 11 points. Senior Calli Bishop added eight points while off the bench. Olivia Ross chipped in with seven points.
Indians, Bachman, rally past Lincoln-Way Central in Medieval Classic
Trailing Lincoln-Way Central 35-29 in Minooka’s (15-2) Lincoln-Way East’s Medieval Classic second-round game Thursday, Indian senior Cierra Bachmann led the Indians again. Scoring six of her game-high 16 points in the fourth quarter, the Indians would rally for a 44-41 win.
The 5-foot-2 junior Allison Bugajski (eight points) came up with a huge long-rang, three pointer in the fourth quarter.
Indian senior sharpshooter Caitlyn Hoover would bury two more treys and finish with nine points in the game.
Trojans hold off West Aurora in Wheaton North quarterfinals
The West Suburban Silver-leaders from Downers Grove North (11-4) led West Aurora 40-27 after three quarters in the Falcon Classic quarterfinal game.
The Blackhawks (10-5) made a furious fourth quarter rally before falling 46-44.
The Trojans were led by junior Ellis Gross, who scored a game-high 16 points. Senior Julie Kramper added 10 points, while Jaylin Harris chipped in with seven points.
Joliet West Tigers stun Beecher at Peotone Tournament
The Tigers of Joliet West (6-11) had a little surprise party in Peotone as the underdog Tigers stunned the now 13-5 Beecher Bobcats 56-38.
Cougars take down Angels in Peotone Shootout 74-62.
Plainfield South (8-6) outshot the Angels (6-10) in pool play at the Blue Devil Holiday Tournament on Thursday.
Indians Weaver, Rossin long-range bombing, buries Wheaton Academy
Lisle (12-5) trailed 25-23 in the third quarter of the Lions’ Holiday Tournament game Thursday. McKenzie Weaver (20 points, three 3’s) buried a three-pointer to give the Lions a 26-25 lead they would not relinquish.
Emma Rossin (17 points, five 3’s), would follow with consecutive, long-range bombs and this one was over.