Montini clobbers Indiana team
Guerin Catholic made the trek across the border so the Indiana school could face some top-notch competition at the Montini Catholic Christmas Tournament.
Wednesday night the Golden Eagles ran into one of the top programs Illinois has to offer, and the host Broncos pasted the visitors 74-24 to close out pool play in the eight-team tourney, which resumes Thursday and Friday.
The Broncos (15-3) jumped ahead 20-5 after one quarter and led 40-11 at the half en route to claiming top honors in Pool A with a 3-0 record. Next up is a contest Thursday against Pool B runner-up St. Joseph, with the championship most likely decided Friday night when the Broncos face Marian Catholic, which topped Pool B with a 3-0 record.
“Coming up here and playing this level of competition is great for our school,” Guerin coach Scott Miller said. “The No. 1 team in the state of Indiana is in our sectional and they’re probably about as talented as this Montini team, so this opportunity is great for us.”
The Golden Eagles were without three injured seniors, including 6-foot-2 center Colleen Frost. Even so they would have been hard pressed to handle Montini, which forced 10 turnovers in the first quarter and shot 17 for 35 through two quarters while holding the visitors to a 4-for-21 shooting effort in the first half.
“We came out with a lot of energy. The coaches told us we had to press them early and that’s what we did,” said Montini guard Nikia Edom, who scored 8 of her team-high 11 points in the first half and finished the night with a trio of 3-pointers.
After a 9-0 run to start the game and a 15-point lead after one quarter, Edom and her teammates managed to keep their feet on the gas pedal despite the risk of complacency on this night.
“You have to refocus, and you have to settle down at times,” she said of playing with big leads. “But forcing turnovers and playing good defense keeps your momentum going.”
Guerin, which dropped to 1-2 in pool play, struggled to get any momentum on its side as the Broncos had just too much size and speed. Jasmine Lumpkin had 5 steals, Kateri Stone 4 steals and Diamond Thompson came off the bench to block 3 shots for a Broncos defense that was relentless all night.
On the other end of the floor, Edom and Stone combined to knock down five 3-pointers while 9-point scorers Tianna Brown and freshman Rainey Kuykendall were forces inside. Ten Broncos scored in the game, including Nia Flowers, who tallied 10 points off the bench.