Montini tops Hampshire

Kiki Wilson couldn’t have expected to be so open.

She didn’t hesitate to make Hampshire pay.

Montini’s senior guard hit 3 tone-setting 3-pointers in the game’s first 90 seconds and scored 20 points in a 55-32 Broncos win in Tuesday’s Class 3A Burlington Central sectional semifinal.

Montini (32-1) advances to play Belvidere North in Thursday’s sectional final.

Hampshire’s zone sagged off Wilson early, and her early barrage from 3 gave Montini a 9-3 lead that ballooned to 23-8 by the quarter’s end.

“I was a little surprised to be that open,” Wilson said. “Most teams have been guarding me because they knew I’ve been shooting it. This is the first game they started out not really guarding me.

“Last game I had an off shooting game, so I figured I’d come out and take advantage, make them have to guard me so it could open up shots for my teammates.”

Montini hit eight 3s Tuesday, giving the Broncos 239 on the season. Hampshire probably thought it was going to get the Montini team that shot 2 for 25 from distance in its regional final win.

“I figured they’d be more of an inside team with their height,” Hampshire’s Jessie Van Dorin said.

Van Dorin, who herself has hit more than 150 varsity 3s, scored 8 points with two 3s early, but they couldn’t prevent Montini from taking a 34-16 halftime lead.

Montini coach Jason Nichols said it was important to take control of things early, playing somewhat of a road game just up the road from Hampshire.

“Kiki coming out and hitting those 3s, and then our pressure making them play at our pace was key,” Nichols said. “(The Whip-Purs) want to play fast; I don’t know if they could play that fast, because they haven’t seen that speed like ours all year.”

Hampshire leading scorer Alex Dumoulin struggled against Montini’s quickness and length out of its matchup zone. Dumoulin grabbed 13 rebounds but shot just 2 of 17, didn’t make a field goal until the fourth quarter and managed 6 points.

“We were a little intimidated by them in the first half especially,” Dumoulin said. “They took our rebound game away. We usually make our living there.”

Montini’s two 6-foot-4 sophomores, Diamond Thompson and Malayna Johnson, came off the bench to block a combined 6 shots, a tall task for the 5-8 Dumoulin.

“I think our length really bothered her,” Nichols said. “Diamond and Malayna, I thought they were excellent off the bench.”

Whitney Holloway had 12 points, 12 assists and 7 steals for Montini — with 0 turnovers. Whitney Adams added 7 points and 11 rebounds.

Karla Vietinghoff added 9 points for Hampshire (27-3), which this season won its third straight regional championship and fourth Big Northern Conference title in a row.

“I want to thank my teammates for making my season one I’ll never forget,” Dumoulin said. “That’s all through their effort and hard work in practice and games.”