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Burlington Central advances to championship game

It wasn't exactly a textbook performance, but the Burlington Central girls basketball team converted down the stretch against Belvidere North.

Trailing 34-30 with 4 minutes left to play, sophomore Mackenzie West contributed a pair of key baskets and freshman Kathryn Schmidt calmly knocked down a pair of free throws with 22 seconds remaining as the Rockets escaped with a 37-36 victory Saturday afternoon in Central's Thanksgiving Classic.

By virtue of allowing the fewest points of the three teams tied at 2-1 in Pool B, the Rockets won the tiebreaker and will face Harlem (3-0) in Tuesday's championship game. Belvidere North will face Larkin for third place.

Schmidt went 6-for-6 from the line and finished with a game-high 17 points and 10 rebounds while West chipped in 10 points and 5 rebounds.

"It was a little ragged, but we persevered and we made plays when we had to," said Central coach Mark Smith. "It was gratifying for the girls to get the win because they've been working really hard."

"At the end, we just took our time, moved the ball very well and looked for the open player," Schmidt said. "I think we worked together really well."

Belvidere North (2-1) had a chance to retake the lead after Schmidt's free throws, but the Rockets' defense stood tall and forced an air-ball 3-point attempt in the waning seconds.

"Defensively we're pretty good," Smith said. "After we got that lead I thought we played sound defense and didn't give them any good looks."

Belvidere North's full-court pressure forced Central into 16 turnovers through three quarters, but the Rockets committed just a pair of turnovers in the final quarter.

"We had to settle down a little against the press because at first we were just running all over," Schmidt said.

Neither team led by more than 5 points in a back-and-forth battle that featured 14 lead changes.

The Blue Thunder went on a 9-point run in the second quarter to take a 16-12 lead, but Zoey Kollhoff's 3-pointer at the buzzer gave Central a 21-20 halftime edge.

Schmidt scored all 5 of the Rockets' third quarter points as Belvidere North moved back in front 27-26 and extended the lead to 34-30 on Morgan McNulty's 3-pointer.

West scored on a driving layup and Kollhoff (7 points) hit the first of 2 free throws. Kollhoff missed the second, but West pulled down the offensive rebound and scored to give the Rockets a 35-34 lead with 1:15 left.

"Mackenzie's got a ton of potential. I think sometimes she isn't aware how good she is," Smith said.

The Blue Thunder made a layup off an inbounds play, but Schmidt provided the game-winning points at the line after being fouled on a strong baseline drive.

"I just thought this is just a regular shot and I didn't even think about the situation," Schmidt said.

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