A Broncos stampede; Montini headed to supersectional

Ever since Michala Johnson went down to injury three months ago, Montini has proven to be far more than a one-girl show.

That strength in numbers played out in spades Thursday.

Freshman forward Tianna Brown and senior Alison Seberger led four Broncos scoring in double figures with 12 points each in Montini's 55-38 win over Wheaton Academy in the Class 3A Riverside-Brookfield sectional championship.

Montini (28-4) will play Marshall, a 53-40 winner over Trinity, at 6 p.m. Monday at the Loyola University supersectional.

Chrissy Fletcher added 10 points and Whitney Holloway, the maestro of the Montini operation, had 10 points, 6 assists and 4 steals.

"For us anyone from one to 14 can score," Seberger said. "We had great balance tonight and our posts played great."

It was a stark contrast to Wheaton Academy. Jenn Lee scored 21 points for the Warriors but was the only player in double figures. Leading scorer Alexa Sharkey, a priority for Montini's defense, was held to 7 points.

"That was the game plan - to not necessarily stop (Sharkey) but to limit her opportunities," Montini coach Jason Nichols said. "We felt if we held her down they were not going to beat us."

Wheaton Academy (28-2) led 10-7 late in the first quarter, but Montini grabbed the lead for good with a 13-2 burst. A Holloway score and feed to Whitney Adams in transition put the Broncos ahead. Two Fletcher scores put Montini ahead 20-12 midway through the second. When Fletcher departed with two fouls, in came active freshman Brown with 2 free throws and a follow shot, one of 6 rebounds.

"Tianna stepped up big-time," Nichols said. "We knew had the advantage in there."

"They're just so big," Wheaton Academy coach Beth Mitchell said. "Across the board, player for player, they just have so much size and athletic ability."

Montini led 24-18 at half, Lee accounting for 15 of Wheaton Academy's points. The lead grew to 39-25 after three quarters, Seberger knocking down a 3-pointer as time expired. Wheaton Academy battled but never got closer than 12, as the best season in school history came to an end.

"They're a great team," Mitchell said of Montini, "and it doesn't take anything away from the season that we've had. We've made a mark in Wheaton Academy basketball history. I told the girls when they leave to walk out of here with their heads held high. They have a lot to be proud of."