Undefeated Maine South edges Stevenson to claim Komaromy crown

Hitting the floor for the fourth time in four days Friday night at the Dundee-Crown Komaromy Classic, Maine South and Stevenson both looked a little weary.

They're both powerhouse teams as well, and it was a battle to the end.

“There were a lot of nerves,” said Hawks senior guard Meegan Fahy. “We knew they were a really good team. We were all super tired. It's pretty exhausting playing four games in four days, but we were excited. We believed in each other and we knew we were going to win.”

Thanks in large part to Fahy's clutch free-throw shooting in the fourth quarter, Maine South emerged as tournament champions with a 49-46 win.

“It wasn't pretty, and credit to Stevenson for that,” Hawks coach Jeff Hamann said. “They play extremely physical and good defense. They kept coming at us. We'd take a 5-point lead and they'd close it with a 3 or something else. Good teams win games like that.”

Both teams in Friday's finale are among the best in the state. Maine South improved to 18-0 and Stevenson is 13-2.

“That's what it should be,” Patriots coach Regan Carmichael said of the title matchup. “This is one of the best tournaments in the area. I remember there were years where if you won the Dundee Crown, you're competing for a state title. And being in this championship game, you're one of the best teams in the state.”

After a back-and-forth first half that had the Hawks clinging to a 22-19 lead at the break, the second half featured more of the same until the game turned early in the fourth quarter.

Guard Nisha Musunuri, who was leading Stevenson with 13 points, was called for two fouls on the same play and that ended the junior guard's night.

Fahy went to the line and made 5 straight free throws to put Maine South in front 41-35.

“I was a little nervous shooting a bunch in a row, but I needed to step up for my team,” said Fahy, who led all scorers with 22 points. “I was confident.”

The Hawks suffered a big loss of their own when junior forward Ally Pape (8 points) left the game with a right ankle injury with 4:55 to play.

“We've got some depth, girls we have confidence in,” Hamann said. “That's a credit to our entire team.”

Trying to tie the game with six seconds to play, junior guard Sydney Rosland missed a 3-pointer. Patriots star forward Emory Klatt (13 points, 16 rebounds) got the ball back but couldn't get a shot off before the final buzzer.

“We never gave up,” Klatt said. “They're a really good team. They're undefeated and we knew this was going to be a really tough matchup. We stayed in it the entire game and I'm really proud of our team for the energy.”

Maine South and Stevenson will be better rested when they meet up again next weekend at Hinsdale Central.

“They're a really good team,” Hamann said. “They're one of the top teams in the state for a reason. Anytime you're able to beat a team like that, it's a special thing. You never want to take these for granted. When you're having the success we're having and people expect us to … teams are coming at us and they're trying to win and we're trying to win.

“We're the champions of this prestigious tournament and we're very proud to say that.”