Montini 62, Driscoll 48

It didn't let loose with a wild celebration after clinching at least a share of its fifth straight Suburban Catholic Conference title, but that doesn't mean the Montini girls basketball team wasn't happy about it.

It's just that, as the saying goes, the Broncos have bigger fish to fry.

As it prepares for what it hopes will be an extended run in the Class 3A tournament, Montini took care of its conference business with a 62-48 triumph over host Driscoll Friday night in Addison.

"It's very exciting for us to win," Broncos sophomore center Michala Johnson said of clinching a share of the crown. "We're just trying to make it to downstate and hopefully win state."

Montini (20-5, 12-0) showed in the second half the potential it has to pull it off.

Holding a 42-34 lead late in the third quarter, the Broncos reeled off a 16-3 run to stretch their advantage to 58-37 with four minutes left in the game.

Montini coach Jason Nichols would have liked to have seen his club pull away from the Highlanders (20-5, 9-4) earlier.

"They had a lot of energy and we had moments where we looked like we were really excited about the snow day," Nichols said.

Johnson took advantage of Montini's day off school to catch up on her sleep, then delivered a game-high 22 points.

Freshman guard Whitney Holloway added 10 points for the Broncos.

Driscoll coach Steve McCuiston figured his Highlanders would give the visitors a better game than when Montini manhandled them 64-35 on Jan. 12 in Lombard.

They did, too.

The home team's plan called for the launching of 3-pointers. Driscoll connected on eight. Junior guard Gigi DiGrazia made four on the way to 14 points.

But Highlanders center Courtney Lindfors, who finished with 10 points, was hampered by foul trouble, and Montini's pressure defense eventually took effect.

"They're relentless," McCuiston said of the Broncos. "You can break the press, break the press and then three or four possessions in a row the next thing you know they pick up a quick 8 points. It can be mentally draining to maintain your poise for that kind of length, and they're running a lot of people in there."

Montini will win the title outright if it wins either of its final two conference games. The Broncos host Aurora Central Monday and Marian Central Tuesday.