Christian Liberty's regional dreams dashed
History was made this week as the Christian Liberty girls basketball team hosted the school's first post-season event since becoming a member of the IHSA member two years ago.
Thursday's regional final matched top-seeded St Benedict and the No. 2 Chargers, who found themselves trailing 22-9 at intermission.
Christian Liberty couldn't do much better defensively in third quarter, holding the Eagles to only 2 free throws.
But the Chargers couldn't muster up enough offense for the stretch drive and fell 36-20.
Senior Brittany Negron closed out a solid senior year with a team-high 11 points for Christian Liberty (9-14).
The only other Chargers with baskets were junior Jana Rowland (4 points) and freshman Shelbi Hernandez (2 points).
Rowland's 14-footer from the left side with 59 seconds left in third quarter got the Chargers to within 24-18 but they could get no closer.
"We just didn't play our game," said Chargers senior guard Sara Elleson. "It was nice to get the regional here. I just wish we could have won it. But good luck to our returning girls next seasons."
Rowland, Carly Baris and Rachel Sotomayor will return, looking to play in their fourth regional title next season. They've also won two volleyball regional crowns.
"It was nice to not have to travel, be comfortable here and shoot at our own baskets," Jana Rowland said. "They were a little too quick for us. We played our hardest but we'll came back ever harder next season."
St. Benedict sophomore guard Alexis Genge led the Eagles (22-7) with a game-high 16 points.
"There always seems to be that one player you are chasing," Rowland said.
Genge's senior sister Amanda (20 ppg) had a season-ending ACL injury in the second game of the season.
"After that, we just asked that every one of our other girls step up and do a little better," said Eagles coach Christopher Ford, who won his sixth regional crown in 11 season. "Our defense has kept us in games all season.
"They (Christian Liberty) did a nice job hosting," he added. "I was very pleased. They were very hospitable."
Chargers coach Steve Rowland was pleased with his team's comeback.
"It was our first time getting to a regional championship and first time hosting one," he said. "I think the pressure of it all got to the girls. But I'm so proud of the girls.
"Most of these girls have had only two years to grasp a whole new system and that's not easy. I was tough on them. They learned some valuable life lessons which I think they'll be bale to use when they go on in life."
York 61, Buffalo Grove 47: In a nonconference game in Elmhurst, senior Andrea DiPrima reached 1,013 points for her career with a team-high 13 points while teammate Bailey North added 11 for the Bison (16-14).