QND runs past Morton, 67-51
In its Illinois High School Association Class 3A girls’ basketball semifinal game against Quincy Notre Dame Friday afternoon, Morton got a first hand look at the state’s only unbeaten team.
The Lady Raiders (29-0) went on three separate scoring runs over four quarters to run away from the Potters 67-51 before an estimated crowd of 2,500 at Redbird Arena.
It was the second highest number of points given up by Morton all season and put QND in the title game for the fourth straight year, but first in Class 3A.
Morton (30-5) will Lombard Montini (34-2) for third place at noon after the defending 3A champions lost 48-45 in overtime to Vernon Hills in the other semifinal.
QND used a pair of 3-pointers by junior guard Kristen Gengenbacher to go on an opening 10-0 run and an eventual 24-5 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Raiders expanded the margin to 35-8 before settling for a 36-18 advantage at halftime.
After two free throws by Morton freshman guard Chandler Ryan closed the gap to 38-20 at 6:54 in the third quarter, QND went on another 9-0 push.
Morton came within 17 twice in the fourth quarter on treys by Ryan and sophomore guard Emma Heisler, but no closer.
Kassidy Gengenbacher led QND in double figures with 15 points. She was followed by Kristen Gengenbacher’s 13 points, Jordan Frericks’ 12, and 10 from May Beth Hugenberg.
Ryan had 18 for Morton, leading all scorers. She was followed in double figures by Kaitlyn Byrne’s 15 and 10 from all-state center Sarah Livingston.
“I’m just so glad we got off to that start in the first quarter,” QND head coach Eric Orne said. “I knew if Morton started making their shots like they did in the second half, it was going to be a ball game.
“These (QND) girls work so hard in practice every day (and) just love the game,” Orne continued. “Morton (is) a tough matchup. The Livingston girl down low is tremendous and very athletic. She and Byrne are a tough assignment. Montini’s got their hands full tomorrow.’’
“I had (Morton junior guard) Kaitlyn Byrne most of the game,” explained QND senior guard Jordan Frericks. “Just putting the pressure on their guard was the key tonight, and not let them on the inside. We did a good job of keeping that pressure on.”
Morton head coach Bob Becker, in complimenting QND, told reporters, “They are well-coached and they have some great players. On our end, I still think we’re a pretty good team. We showed glimpses of it. Obviously, for us to be down 19 by the end of the first quarter, we dug ourselves a hole that was a little bit too much.
“I give our kids credit that our kids kept battling, and they had so many runs, and showed some flashes of the team that I really know this season,” Becker added. “Our hats are, definitely, off to Quincy Notre Dame.”
“We just had to keep fighting, and getting the ball to open players,’’ Bryne said afterwards. “We just tried to keep competing and keep making it a close game.”
Morton junior guard Abbie Cox said winning Saturday’s contest against Montini “is extremely important because no one wants to end their season on a loss. We’re definitely going to come out against Montini and give it our best because we really have nothing to lose. So, we’re going to try to beat our school record of fourth place, trying for third place.”
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CLASS 4A STATE FINALS
AT NORMAL (ISU’s Redbird Arena)
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
G-1 — Rolling Meadows 61, Huntley 44
G-2 — Chicago Heights Marian (31-1) vs. Chicago Whitney Young (27-3), (n)
TODAY’S GAMES
G-3 — Huntley (26-7) vs. G-2 loser, 6:30 p.m. (third place)
G-4 — Rolling Meadows (30-3) vs. G-2 winner, 8:15 p.m. (championship)
CLASS 3A STATE FINALS
AT NORMAL (ISU’s Redbird Arena)
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
G-1 — Vernon Hills 48, Lombard Montini 45 (OT)
G-2 — Quincy Notre Dame 67, Morton 51
TODAY’S GAMES
G-3 — Lombard Montini (34-2) vs. Morton (30-5), noon (third place)
G-4 — Vernon Hills (31-2) vs. Quincy Notre Dame (29-0), 2 p.m. (championship)