Walther Lutheran ousts Timothy Christian
Things were finally going Timothy Christian’s way Tuesday night when the wheels feel off.
Trailing Walther Lutheran 31-28 with just over 2 minutes left in the third quarter, the Trojans had almost come back from an early 16-point deficit. They had the basketball and a good look at making it 31-30.
But Walther Lutheran’s Melanie Ransom stepped up with a big block, which sparked the Broncos to 10-0 run and an eventual 47-36 win over Timothy in the semifinals of the Class 2A Westminster Christian girls basketball sectional.
Walther Lutheran (25-6) will be after its second sectional championship in a row Thursday at 7:30 p.m. when it faces St. Edward (21-7). Walther beat the Green Wave 54-43 on Jan. 11 in Melrose Park. Timothy Christian finishes the season 17-11.
“We had it back to a one-possession game and we had the ball,” said Timothy Christian coach Ryan DeKoekoek. “We had a shot get blocked and that was a big moment in the game. “The momentum was coming at us pretty strong and that took the wind out of our sails a little.”
It was a swing the Trojans couldn’t recover from. Walther’s JaQuita Walker started it with a drive down the lane and Isimeme Edeko scored with 43 seconds left in the third to make it a 35-28 game. Edeko hit a free throw, Melanie Ransom scored and Morgan Ransom finished the run with a bucket that gave the Broncos a 41-28 lead with 4:57 left in the game. Timothy would come no closer than 9 the rest of the way.
“We kept our composure,” said Broncos coach Todd Fisher. “Timothy made a nice run but we didn’t get down and then we were able to extend the lead.”
Each team hit 6 3-pointers in the game, an Timothy outrebounded the Broncos 38-34 but the Trojans turned the ball over 16 times, with Walther turning 12 of those into points. Meanwhile, Walther had just 8 turnovers. The Broncos led 26-10 late in the second quarter when Timothy’s Kari LeGrand hit back-to-back 3-pointers to make it a 26-16 game at halftime.
“I was a little bummed out the first half that our energy was poor and I thought we were scared at times and hesitant at times,” said DeKoekoek.
Senior Jordyn Platt and junior Cassidy Block led the Trojans with 10 points each. Block also had 9 rebounds. Melanie Ransom had 15 points, Edeko had 11 and Morgan Ransom 12 for Walther Lutheran.