These teams came in a combined 65-1 and were the 1 and 2 seeds in the Sectional, as well as the top two ranked teams left in the state. Both teams are deserving of getting to Bloomington/Normal for the State Finals. Only one can get there. How big was this game? WNBA All- Star Jewell Loyd, from Seattle Storm, former McDonald's All-American from Niles West (Skokie) was in the building. The game lived up to the hype and then some. Here's some of what happened.
#1 seed Loyola Academy (Wilmette) 53 #2 seed Maine South (Park Ridge) 47: Junior point guard Aubrey Galvan is a division one prospect. One of the top players in the state regardless of class. She struggled with her shot most of the night. Loyola was teetering on the edge of losing their first game of the season. Tough call to play a top team in their house. She was 5 for 20 from the floor at the time. Her team was down 45-40 with about 2 minutes left in the game. She then put on her division one prospect cape and hit two huge threes to give Loyola a one point lead. Before the second three, she had missed a shot, but sophomore guard Clare Weasler got her biggest rebound of the season and kicked it back out to Galvan for the three. Maine South had a chance to tie down 50-47. Maine South senior Meagan Fahey took a three point shot and missed. Enter Paige Engels who gathered the huge defensive rebound (she actually got a hand on the offensive rebound that Weasler eventually got), got fouled hit 1 of 2 free throws in the last 20 seconds of the game to go up 4. Maine South came down and missed another three. Loyola senior Kelsey Langston got the rebound, was fouled and hit 2 of 2 free throws for final margin. Loyola Academy (Wilmette) stays undefeated at 35-0 and a serious threat to win the title. Advances to the Libertyville Supersectional, where they will have to play another road game against Libertyville. Maine South ends a fine season at 31-2.
Top performances for Loyola Academy (Wilmette):
Aubrey Galvan, 5'7" junior point guard: She struggled with her shot all night but all her three point makes were big time. First one was at the first quarter buzzer. The other two gave Loyola the lead late in the game. She can get her own shot off the dribble, or is good at the catch and shoot. Her stat line tonight was 21 points (7 for 22, 3 threes) 5 for 6 from free throw line 2 rebounds 2 steals and 1 block.
Paige Engels, 5'7" senior combo guard: She was everywhere tonight. Did a little bit of everything on both ends of the court. Played like she was not ready for her career to end. Stat line 19 points (6 for 12, 2 for 5 from three) 5 for 8 from free throw line 8 rebounds (all defensive) 3 assists 2 steals and 2 blocks. Got her hand on a key offensive rebound for Galvan's second three.
Top performance for Maine South (Park Ridge):
Meegan Fahy, 5'5" senior combo guard: Southern Illinois Edwardsville commit left it all out on the floor tonight. She scored from all three levels, continually attacked the basket. Got to the free throw line 10 times making 9. Filled the stat sheet. Tied for game high honors with 21 points 8 rebounds 2 assists 2 steals and 1 block.
Big time competitive game. Lots of lead changes. If there're two better teams in the state than these two, someone will have to show them to me.
Comments