Antioch repeats as Cage Classic champion

In its perfect season to date, Antioch's girls basketball team hasn't trailed very often.

But on Wednesday night, the Sequoits showed that they can come from behind, too.

Holding Illiana Christian to 8 points in the fourth quarter, Antioch overcame an 8-point halftime deficit to prevail 65-56 and capture its second straight Lisle Holiday Cage Classic title.

“It's so much fun to play out there with this team,” said tournament MVP Ashley Reiser, who scored 16 points. “We have a lot of returners coming back and we are used to high-pressure situations. People stepped up.”

One of those players was Kelly Johnson, an all-tournament selection who opened the fourth quarter with three consecutive baskets to give the Sequoits their first lead of the game with 3:04 left in the fourth quarter. Another was Alexis Duehr, who hit back-to-back 3s after Illiana knotted up the score at 50-apiece with 2:43 remaining.

“Coming out in the fourth, I said to my teammates, there is no way we are losing now,” Johnson said. “It was just a mindset change. We all came together and when that happens, we start passing well and hitting shots.”

Johnson had a game-high 20 points, Duehr finished with 16 and Erika Gallimore hauled down 11 rebounds. Antioch improved to 16-0.

“I love this tournament,” Antioch coach Tim Borries said. “You play 2A and 3A teams and it's a good caliber of basketball. You don't see any teams not giving max effort.”