Timothy earns 'long overdue' win over Walther

Shannon McNeil jumped up and down with Anneke Stremler, giddily yelling "we have to go out for some food!"

Dessert couldn't possibly be this sweet.

Stremler's two free throws with 17.4 seconds left gave Timothy Christian a 29-28 win over Walther Lutheran in Thursday's Class 2A Timothy Christian regional championship game. Timothy Christian (16-10) will play Holy Trinity on Monday at the Class 2A Lisle sectional.

"I try not to focus on the pressure," Stremler said, "and just focus on my shots. It was definitely a relief to beat Walther Lutheran finally. I'm proud of my team."

Timothy Christian's win also shed a burden that must have felt like a winter coat on a warm spring day. Walther Lutheran had eliminated the Trojans from the postseason three years in a row.

"It's long overdue," said McNeil, one of five seniors to finally beat Walther Lutheran when it counted, "long overdue."

Emma Schmidt-Swartz's putback gave Walther Lutheran a 28-27 lead with 29 seconds left. At the other end Stremler got free on an inbounds play and was fouled attemping a short jumper. She made both free throws, and on Walther Lutheran's last possession McNeil alertly gave a foul with one second on the clock. A tough shot underneath the basket bounced off the rim as time expired, touching off a mad celebration at midcourt.

"I told the girls it's like we have an overdue library book," Trojans coach Ryan DeKoekkoek said, "and you have to return the book. I give the girls a lot of credit. They battled and made the plays when we needed to."

Timothy Christian's only lead over the first three quarters was 1-0, but a McNeil driving layup and two free throws sent the Trojans into the final eight minutes down 20-18.

Stremler's turnaround jumper tied the game at 20-20, one of three times Timothy Christian knotted the score. JaQuitta Walker split two free throws with 2:44 left to put Walther Lutheran ahead 27-26, but Stremler gave the Trojans only their second lead of the game with a tough turnaround jumper off a McNeil shot that Schmidt-Swartz blocked.

"Shannon keeps telling me to work on my fadeaway shot," Stremler said, "but that's the first one I've ever made."

Kelsey Kaczynski scored 7 points for Timothy Christian. Stremler added 6, Meghan Leach 5 and McNeil 4.

Crucial for the Trojans was a 1-2-2 zone defense focused on containing 6-foot center Schmidt-Swartz. She finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds, but as a team Walther Lutheran (21-6) shot just 10 of 35 from the floor.

"We stayed in that zone, and made them make work and make shots," DeKoekkoek said. "Their shooters got cold."

"Wherever Emma went, Shannon was always there," Broncos coach Todd Fisher said. "When we played them last Friday in the second half (a 50-47 Broncos win), same thing. We knew they were going to do it to try to take Emma away. Other girls were going to have to step up."