Wave can't sustain lead, tumbles in semi
Opposing teams try to stop St. Edward senior Katie Yohn the way the Japanese tried to stop Godzilla in all those old movies - they'll launch the kitchen sink at her if it puts a halt to the carnage.
Newark didn't call in the Air Force or Navy to combat even though Yohn, a Bradley-bound standout, piled up first-half totals of 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 steals against its man-to-man coverage.
However, the Norsemen did use every weapon in their defensive arsenal to slow Yohn and the Green Wave for a 66-60 victory in a semifinal of the Holiday Cage Classic girls basketball tournament at Lisle High School on Monday.
St. Edward (11-4) will play Wheaton Academy for third place today at 6:30 p.m. Newark (12-2) will face Coal City for the title at 8 p.m.
The Green Wave led 31-24 at halftime, but Newark (12-2) came out in the third quarter in a triangle-and-two defense designed to shadow Yohn and freshman Callie Johnson (6 points), according to Newark coach Dale Skelton.
The Norsemen also pressed full court after made shots, throwing the Green Wave offense out of rhythm and off kilter.
"They sometimes were double-teaming me, especially on the ends, and they were up in my face," Yohn said. "I just couldn't see. It was tough. No one was coming to the ball. We just had an off game tonight. It was just one of those games."
St. Edward committed 8 turnovers in the third period, mainly as the players crossed midcourt against the press. Newark capitalized with a 27-point third quarter on 12-of-20 shooting to take a 51-46 lead heading to the fourth.
"We were in the lead, but when they started putting pressure on us it shook up our nerves," St. Edward junior Kristi Knott said. "We needed to calm it down and get back our concentration."
The Wave composed themselves and opened the fourth quarter with 6 straight points to charge back into the lead. A pair of baskets from Yohn (25 points) and a fast-break layup from sophomore Vincenza Ranallo (12 points) put St. Edward ahead 52-51 with 5:29 to play.
The lead changed hands three times until Newark's Laura Johnson came through in the clutch. The slick senior guard launched a 3-pointer from the corner with 2:53 remaining to tie the game at 56. She then drilled another from the same spot 40 seconds later to give the Norsemen the lead for good. Johnson finished with a game-high 27 points.
"We kept leaving her open in that corner and she killed us with those 3-pointers," Yohn said. "We really have to work hard on our defense."
Lauren McNanna gave Newark a 64-59 lead with 57 seconds left when she converted a dazzling, off-balance layup for a three-point play.
"They're a good team," St. Edward coach Michelle Dawson said. "We just wish we could have handled a few things differently down the stretch against their full-court press or making better decisions with the ball once we got the ball over halfcourt.
"That's what these tournaments are for, to learn and try to improve when we get back into conference."