Moriarty third, Kuligowski fourth in Queen competition

NORMAL — The run of 3-point shooting supremacy came to an end here Saturday afternoon for Grayslake Central senior Sarah Kuligowski and Christian Liberty freshman Jessica Moriarty.

Junior Paige Rakers of Carlyle made 12 of her 15 shots to win the Queen of the Hill competition at Redbird Arena, while Moriarty was third and Kuligowski fourth in the competition.

Hononegah’s Krystal James finished second with 9.

“I knew it would be hard to get the same number,” said Kuligowski, who hit 13 of 15 on Friday to win the Class 3A title and managed 5 made shots on Saturday. “But I had nothing to lose down here. I just wanted to have fun and I did.”

Kuligowski, who played a reserve role for Grayslake Central’s sectional finalist, will take her academic talents to Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla., after graduation, where she will study marine biology.

Moriarty, meanwhile, shot first in Saturday’s finals but after going 5-for-5 on her first rack, nerves took over and she finished with 8. James made her 9 right after Moriarty, and then Rakers made 12.

“I was really nervous after I hit those first five,” said Moriarty, who won the Class 1A title last weekend in a shoot-off. “I knew I had a lot of pressure to keep making them and I started shaking and getting nervous.

“It’s been a great experience and a lot of fun. There’s nothing to lose when you get to come down here for this.”