Harvest Christian rolls into 1A sectional final
Harvest Christian junior Alyssa Iverson is one of those players who likes to take control of a game early if given the opportunity.
Tuesday night in Elgin Iverson got that opportunity and made the most of it. She scored 17 of her game-high 18 points in the first half as the Lions eventually rolled to a 58-25 win over Chicago Hope Academy in one semifinal of the Class 1A Harvest Christian girls basketball sectional.
Harvest (27-3), which has won 22 straight, will take on Walther Christian (24-5) at 7 p.m. Thursday for the sectional title. The host Lions will be seeking their third straight trip to the Elite Eight. Walther defeated North Shore Country Day 62-32 in Tuesday's second semi.
"This is my third time being (in sectionals) and being a captain and having been here before I just want to help our younger players execute everything," said Iverson, who helped Harvest run out to a 36-16 lead at halftime.
"I like to come out every game and be an offensive threat and use everybody on the team."
Lions coach Rich DeTamble knows the value of having a three-year varsity player leading the way at this point of the season.
"She has so many moves," DeTamble said of Iverson. "She was really checked in tonight."
Leading 14-8 in the final minute of the first quarter, Iverson made 2 free throws to spark a 13-0 Harvest Christian run that pretty much put the game away. Hope (18-9) would come no closer than 17 the rest of the way and Harvest's biggest lead was the final score.
The Lions' smothering defense helped create 32 Hope turnovers and the Eagles made just 10 of 62 field goal attempts.
"We just need to keep focusing on defense," DeTamble said. "We pride ourselves on that. Our help defense wasn't very strong tonight but it will be better (Thursday)."
Junior Isamar Garcia added 11 points for the Lions, who made 23 of 65 field goal attempts including 16 of 35 in the first half. Freshman Maddy Martin had 9 points, sophomore Gracie Ozburn added 7 while sophomore Jenn Kasper had 8 rebounds as the Lions won the board battle 38-33.
As the postseason goes on, DeTamble knows the games will get tougher - the Lions' margin of victory in their first three state tournament games now averages 46 points per game. But the Lions' coach also believes his team is being overlooked by many observers.
"(Thursday) will be a tough game," DeTamble said. "(Walther coach) Todd (Fisher) coaches a good game.
"But we're so much better than what we're being given credit for. Our kids are really energetic right now and they're happy."