Aurora Christian rolls to state
Salt Fork High School was a Cinderella-type story in the Class 1A girls basketball playoffs in the areas between Champaign and Danville in recent weeks.
But the slipper fell off in dramatic fashion at the Pontiac supersectional on Monday night.
Aurora Christian, ranked No. 6 in The Associated Press' final regular-season poll, steamrolled Catlin-based Salt Fork 53-18 to earn its first trip to the state tournament in program history.
The Eagles' star junior Anna Griffin single-handedly outscored the entire Salt Fork team in propelling Aurora Christian (30-4) to a date with top-ranked Lewistown Friday afternoon in the second semifinal at Redbird Arena on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal.
The Storm, which upset top-seeds Colfax Ridgeview and Decatur St. Teresa to reach the Elite Eight, had its season close at 22-13.
"We just played tough man-to-man defense in the half court," Aurora Christian coach Burney Wilkie said of Aurora Christian holding Salt Creek to 2-for-20 from the floor in building a 22-6 lead at halftime. "We didn't have to press."
The Eagles blew the game open bridging the middle two quarters as Aurora Christian erupted for 21-points in the third alone.
"We were able to get out and run, and it was pretty much a wrap," Wilkie said.
"It was an overall team effort," said Griffin, who also added 13 rebounds. "I just played really well today. I was attacking the basket."
Freshman point guard Aspen Weeks' three 3-pointers translated into 11 more points for Aurora Christian.
Weeks' backcourt mate, sophomore off-guard Lexi Lamanna, added another field goal from beyond the arc in scoring 8 points.
"Every game is not given to us," Lamanna said. "We were doing what we do best. We all did our jobs, and that's why the lead kept growing."
Enjoying a significant height advantage in the paint, Aurora Christian sophomore forward Luse Thaya had a game-high 14 rebounds.
Kayleigh Davis scored 9 points, half the Storm total, to lead Salt Fork.
Wilkie and his players are more than aware the circumstances against once-beaten Lewistown will be an entirely different matter.
"Two 30-win teams," Wilkie said. "You know we like to run. I can't wait to see what our girls can do on that larger (college) court."
"It's going to be a challenge for us," Griffin said. "Hopefully, we will be a challenge for them, too."