Crystal Lake South nabs regional crown
The Crystal Lake South girls basketball program hadn't delivered any postseason hardware to the South hallways since the 1992-93 season.
That is until Friday night.
While many of those on the Gator roster were bustling around in diapers 16 years ago, their presence in the South gym was known Friday night as they pushed past top-seeded Jacobs for a 32-29 Class 4A regional championship victory.
Following a slow start from both teams, Crystal Lake South (25-4) came out in the third quarter quickly turning a 17-14 lead into a 27-14 advantage scoring 10 unanswered points.
Senior Caitlin Mize (8 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals) got the Gators started converting on an inside jumper. Michelle Gaede followed, connecting from just inside the arc. The duo repeated that attack on back-to-back trips, and Jenny Hanrahan (8 points) capped off the run with an inside bucket of her own.
"We really wanted it this year," said Mize. "I had confidence in each of my teammates, and we pulled this one out together."
Down 27-17 entering the final 8 minutes, Jacobs (18-10) hardly seemed phased.
Accounting for all of the team's 9 third quarter points, Hailey Cnota kept the Golden Eagles within reach. Katy Cook crashed the boards for 8 rebounds.
In the fourth quarter, Maria Tamburrino (9 points) helped Jacobs pull within one at 27-26 scoring 7 uninterrupted points.
Gaede (10 points), who led South offensively, stopped the bleeding for South. But, Tamburrino scored again to keep it a 1-point contest at 29-28 with 4 minutes left to play.
In the final 20 seconds, Jacobs put up 3 quick attempts from long-distance trailing 32-29, but none found their way into the basket.
"It was tough ending the season this way," Cnota said. "It was my birthday. I just kept telling myself I wasn't going to lose this game."
Cnota led all scorers with 12 points and 6 rebounds.
"For these girls to keep their composure and battle back the way they did says a lot," said Jacobs coach Ed Haugens. "I'm very proud of each of them."
The Gators will hang their new hardware, and advance to Monday night's sectional semifinal against St. Charles East at 8 p.m. at Jacobs.
"Tonight was two very solid teams showing that they both wanted to win a regional," said South coach Kyle McCaughn. "For us, these girls have worked hard for three years. This was not a three-month endevour. And they did it together."