Missed layups cost Montini
It goes by a variety of names - most commonly layup, but also bunny. But by any name, the shot taken closest to the basket is also known as basketball's highest percentage shot.
Unless you were Montini's girls basketball team Saturday.
The Broncos suffered a torrid time near the net, which was just the opening Loyola needed to claim a 53-48 victory in the title game of the Suburban Holiday Showcase.
"We missed about 12 of them from point-blank range," Montini coach Jason Nichols said. "That just can't happen. That's your game right there. Forget about all the other little things we didn't do, like rebound on the defensive end. But it really just comes down to making a layup."
Montini (14-2) saw its 10-game winning streak snapped.
Loyola (14-1) opened hot and took a 20-8 lead before the Broncos began to come to life.
That rally came fully to life in the third quarter when, sparked by Whitney Holloway's 6 points, Montini cut the lead to 31-29. A late surge thanks to a pair of Courtney Thomas free throws and a Kiki Wilson basket left the teams tied 37-37 entering the fourth quarter.
Holloway led Montini with 16 points. She only scored once in the fourth quarter, on a 3-pointer with just less than three minutes left that put the Broncos ahead 45-44.
That was Montini's last lead in the contest. Loyola's Megan Holy hit a layup on the Ramblers' next possession to start an 8-point surge. Holy was tough to handle all game but especially in the second half. She had a game-high 23 points but got loose on a series of back-door cuts through the third and fourth quarters.
"They are a really good team with a lot of height," Holy said of Montini. "We knew we had to come out and play really good defense. That really helped us there."
Loyola shot over Montini's 2-3 zone and hit eight 3-pointers in the contest. That stretched the defense just enough for Holy to find some gaps.
"When we got the ball to the high post, I was able to get loose, because the defense was spread out more," Holy said. "It was open - luckily I made it."
Katherine Wheeler accounted for half the points in that killing Loyola surge, all from the free-throw line. Wheeler finished with 13 points. And the two times she missed, Michelle Bilek rebounded to keep the ball in the Ramblers' hands and help seal their 12th straight win.
"We didn't get beat today, we beat ourselves," Nichols said. "I don't say that very often, and give Loyola all the credit in the world. They played very well and with a lot of emotion. But we beat ourselves. We didn't box out at the end of the game - twice - and didn't give ourselves a chance to win the game. That's just unacceptable."
Montini's next game is Jan. 3 at Marian Central. The Broncos have 11 games, all in the Suburban Catholic Conference, remaining in the season.
"I told the team that we've had a good first half," Nichols said. "This (loss) could help, but only if we learn from it. If we don't learn from it, then it's not a positive."