Montini punches ticket for final
Like a knockout punch in boxing, a sudden flurry of offense can come at anytime and stun teams that have faced Montini this season.
After Montini guards Kiki Wilson and Nikia Edom shot a perfect 4 of 4 from 3-point range in the first quarter, the Broncos never looked back.
Montini (18-0) stormed past Bogan 70-38 on Wednesday in the Montini Christmas Tournament in Lombard. The Broncos will face Marian Catholic for the tournament championship tonight in Lombard.
Montini shooters sank long-range shots all game.
"I like to start with a penetration and then look for someone on the kickout," said Montini guard Whitney Holloway.
The Broncos offense also came in sudden bursts off Bogan turnovers.
Montini senior Whitney Adams scored an easy basket in the low-post in the first quarter, and then the Broncos intercepted the ensuing inbounds pass. Quickly, the Broncos found Adams the ball and she scored again while being fouled.
Adams nailed her free throw and the end result was a 5-point swing in Montini's favor.
"We have a tendency to start so fast," said Broncos coach Jason Nichols. "Over time we have the ability to wear teams down with our depth."
After Bogan (7-7) tied the game at 8-8 in the first quarter, Holloway picked off a pass near midcourt and smoothly glided her way through traffic to score.
"I just try to focus on the basket. When you worry about getting fouled you miss the shot," Holloway said.
Holloway made another steal and layup in the second quarter to put the Broncos up 26-13. She finished with 12 points.
"Sometimes my team really needs me to score, but I have to just take what the defense gives me," Holloway said.
The Broncos' dominance in offensive rebounding paid major dividends in long-range shooting.
"We hit three 3-pointers off offensive rebounds," Nichols said. "Good teams get on the offensive glass. Whitney Adams is an awesome offensive rebounder and so is Kiki Wilson."
Wilson finished with a team-high 15 points.
"Never question (Wilson's) effort," Nichols said. "She'll run through a wall for you."
Bogan senior Ariel Haynes led all scorers with 16 points.
The Bengals' leading scorer made shots from nearly every angle on the floor, but Nichols was more disappointed with the Broncos shooting 57 percent from the free-throw line.
"We're missing way too many free throws and we're missing them in our own gym," Nichols said
Despite mediocrity at the free-throw line, 10 Montini players scored at least one field goal.
"We take every game at a time," Holloway said. "As long as we don't lose downstate and in the playoffs is what really matters."