Girls Basketball: Surprising Lincoln Park awaits Niles West in regional final
BY MIKE CAMERON Contributor February 15, 2012 9:31AM
Lincoln Park's Shakeela Green (55) floats a ball over the fingers of Glenbrook North's Alena Marovitz (45) on Feb. 14, 2012, at the Niles West regional in Skokie. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: February 22, 2012 12:09PM
In two strikingly different Class 4A regional semifinals, host Niles West drubbed Taft 53-13, before Lincoln Park edged Glenbrook North 60-59 in overtime on Tuesday.
Niles West (21-8), the outright champion of the rugged CSL South, gave more minutes to reserves than to starters. Playing just 18 minutes, Wolves superstar Jewell Loyd scored 11 points to run her career total to 3,023. Liz Troyk had a game-high 12 points on four three-pointers.
The No. 2 seed in the New Trier Sectional, Niles West blanked No. 15 Taft 19-0 in the third quarter to take a 41-6 lead. Sophomore guard Kyra Vidas finished with six points for Taft (24-6), which won the Public Blue North with a 13-1 record.
In the second game, No. 10 Lincoln Park (14-11) pulled the upset of No. 8 Glenbrook North (19-10) behind Jasmine Washington (24 points) and Diamond Houston (15). The Lions’ speedy guards each drove for three baskets late in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime at 52-52. Washington added six more points in the extra session.
Glenbrook North senior guard Rachel Blitt (21 points) starred in defeat. Junior guard Morgan Zivin tallied 12 points. Senior forward Gracie Sanchez was held to 10 points.
Loyd enjoyed a partial respite after scoring 42 points in an overtime road win against Glenbrook South on Friday. The Notre Dame signee became the seventh girl in state history to reach 3,000 points.
Loyd, Bolingbrook senior Morgan Tuck and Whitney Young junior Linnae Harper were named as three of the five finalists for the Naismith High School Girls Player of the Year on Monday.
Niles West will play Lincoln Park for the regional title at 7:30 p.m. Friday
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