Flanagan's dash lifts Glenbard West past Wheaton North
Glenbard West's seniors desperately wanted another shot at a regional win.
Bridget Flanagan gave them one.
Flanagan's length-of-the-court score in the final 8.2 seconds of regulation forced overtime, where the No. 9 seed Hilltoppers beat No. 7 Wheaton North 60-54 in Wednesday's Class 4A Fenwick regional semifinal in Oak Park.
It's Glenbard West's first regional win since back-to-back regional titles in 2005 and 2006, the first of those led by current Hilltoppers assistant Kelly Krumwiede.
"Right before the game we said, 'Do it for the seniors. It's their turn,'" said Flanagan, a junior. "They haven't had the opportunity to win a playoff game with some tough matchups. It was our turn to make something happen for West."
Glenbard West led by 8 with four minutes left in the fourth quarter and seemingly still had the game in hand up 49-44 with 2:26 to play after Abbey White's 2 free throws. But the Hilltoppers turned the ball over three times in the final 1:10 of regulation, and a pair of Fantasia Vine free throws after a Jasmin Torres steal nudged Wheaton North ahead 51-49.
Cue Flanagan's coast-to-coast heroics, and Glenbard West's second chance.
"Coach told me if I was open, just take it," Flanagan said. "We had a play set up, but with 8.2 seconds left I just took it.
"Our goal tonight was to forget mistakes," Hilltoppers coach Mike Hofland said. "Going into overtime, we rode the momentum of Bridget's shot. She's a very confident and athletic kid."
Glenbard West never trailed in overtime. A pair of Nicole Hazemi free throws a minute in broke the 51-51 tie and Flanagan banked in a runner.
If the Hilltoppers (17-12) were perhaps hit and miss during the regular season, they found their best game at the most opportune time. Glenbard West outrebounded Wheaton North 42-28 behind Cayla Herbst's 17 boards, held Falcons standout guard Vine scoreless until the final minute of regulation and led most of the way.
White scored 18 points, Herbst 13, Hastings 10 and Flanagan 9 for the Hilltoppers, who play No. 1 seed Fenwick on Friday.
"We've played really tough games the last three years in regionals," White said, "and it was hard losing. This year we knew what we had to do."
After scoring 7 points in the final 1:50 of regulation, Wheaton North didn't make shot in overtime until Vine's runner with 28 seconds left.
"Tonight didn't go as planned," Falcons coach David Eaton said. "I think we ran out of gas a little bit."
Lauren Graham scored 16 points and A.K. Feltes 13 for Wheaton North (17-10). Bri Graham, a senior on a young Falcons team, added 10 points. She turned an ankle late in the third quarter but hobbled back in later in the fourth.
"Listening to some of the seniors talk to the underclassmen in the locker room there," Eaton said, "that's why I coach. The words that they passed along to the underclassmen means that they get it. That made my season. I think we've really started to establish something here."