Lake Forest knocks off No. 1 seed Hersey

Top-seeded Hersey battled No. 5 Lake Forest to the wire in Monday's Class 4A girls basketball sectional semifinal at Palatine High School.

"Our theme for this season was kind of 'a battle every day,'" said Hersey junior guard Mary Kate Fahey. "Just battle as hard as you can."

The Huskies (26-8) did exactly that before falling 48-44 in the final minute.

Lake Forest (26-8) advanced to Thursday's championship and will face No. 3 Fremd (26-7) for the championship.

Hersey junior Avery Larson kicked the ball out to freshman Katy Eidle, who tossed home a 3-pointer that gave the Huskies a 44-43 lead with 1:20 left in the game.

After a timeout by Scouts coach Kyle Wilhelm, Lake Forest senior standout Halle Douglass - who scored a game-high 20 points, 16 in the second half - hit two free throws to give her team a 45-44 lead with 1:15 left.

After Hersey missed a couple for shot to take the lead, Douglass grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 27.3 seconds left.

The Wisconsin recruit hit the first to make it 46-44 and then junior Finola Summerville got the game's biggest rebound off Douglass' second attempt.

Douglass converted two more free throws with 14.6 second left and Hersey missed a couple of 3-pointers in the final seconds to put Lake Forest in the sectional final for the second straight year.

"It's really hard to say goodbye to a team as special as this one," said Fahey, who led Hersey with 14 points, including a game-high four 3-pointers. "But you have to give it to Lake Forest. I played with Halle all summer (AAU) and hands down, she is one of my favorite players I've ever played with. She was awesome tonight and I'm really happy for them."

"This stings for sure, just having to go home after a loss like this. Everyone played their hearts out and gave everything they had."

The Huskies will use this loss - only their second in their last 17 games - as a learning tool.

"We're just going to come back stronger and work harder," Fahey added. "We know what it takes to get to this point so now we have to know what it takes to get to the next point."

"It was a learning experience and I'm just excited for the next few years." said Eidle, who finished with 10 points. "I think we'll be very good next season and we'll learn from this game. We'll work harder next year trying to get even more wins than 26."

Hall of fame coach Mary Fendley graduates only three players: Jessie Carlquist, Jordan Carlquist and Claire Stollfuss.

Jordan Carlquist had three clutch baskets, including a 16-footer that put Hersey ahead 40-38 midway through the final quarter and she followed it with a nice hustle save of a loose ball in front the Scouts' bench.

"This team was one of most fun I've been on," Jordan Carlquist said. "Everyone had their personalities and I looked forward to practice and games every single day.

"We were in that locker room a long time just being upset after the game, but these girls can come back even better next year with the feelings of this loss being their motivation and drive."

Fendley credited her seniors for their four years.

"When you look at the commitment from Jessie, Jordan and Claire, I think it's so hard to get to this level," she said. "So much happens in between starting youth basketball with parents and coaches. And it transitions to so much over the years. There are so many reasons, all of which are good, for whatever reason to stop playing.

"And for Jessie, Jordan and Claire to stick with it is so impressive. As time goes on, I think they'll realize how impressive it is that they were important pieces on a successful team."