Christian Liberty's Moriarity 1A champ
Jessica Moriarty launched Christian Liberty into statewide prominence Friday afternoon.
The freshman from the Arlington Heights school, which is in just its third year as an IHSA member, won the Class 1A 3-point competition at the girls basketball state tournament at Redbird Arena in Normal.
"I'm so excited," Moriarty said by phone after claiming the title in a shoot-off. "It feels really, really good."
Moriarty also had to make it out of a shootout in Thursday's preliminary round at Redbird to make the final four and shoot between 1A semifinals before a statewide television audience.
Moriarty and Taylor McClintock of Glasford Illini Bluffs made 6 of 15 shots Friday. Moriarty won the shoot-off and title 4-1 and advanced to be part of the Queen of the Hill competition against the winners of the other three classes at next weekend's 3A/4A tourney at Redbird.
"I wasn't super-confident at first (Thursday) but once I made it to the top four that definitely helped a lot," said Moriarty, a Schaumburg resident who started at guard this year for Christian Liberty. "It was much more nervewracking today. It was really, really exciting and definitely very nervewracking."
Moriarty said the support of her father Brad, mother Rhonda and grandmother helped ease some nerves. Teammates Vivi Barclay, Jenn West, Katelyn Garlick and Andreea Radu were also in attendance.
Christian Liberty coach Colleen Sullivan couldn't make it downstate because of a business meeting but received a call from an excited and tearful Radu with the news of Moriarty's victory.
"Isn't that cool?" said Christian Liberty athletic director Steve Rowland, who was already getting interest from students about going to Normal next weekend. "The whole school is abuzz. Everybody knows Jess and she's a gym rat who loves the basketball court.
"This is exciting for her, especially as a freshman."
Moriarty, whose brother Kyle is a senior on the boys team, made 9 shots in the preliminaries to end up in a three-way tie for the final two spots. She made 7 of 10 in the shoot-off and continued the roll by making 3 of her first 5 shots in Friday's finals.
"I thought I'd be good from there but then I started thinking too much," Moriarty said. "I didn't think that would hold up."
Especially since McClintock made 11 in the preliminaries and was the final shooter. But they finished in a tie and Moriarty went first in the shoot-off.
"I thought it was over after I only hit the four," Moriarty said.
It turned out to be over in a good way for Moriarty. Now she gets a bonus trip to Normal.
"My goal was to at least get downstate," Moriarty said. "I'm very excited for that (next weekend) and I'm very nervous. There will be some really good shooters."
Moriarty included.