It's role reversal as Bolingbrook tips Young

NORMAL - Corry Irvin could only watch the final moments with her left hand anchored to the bottom of her chin.

The Whitney Young girls basketball coach watched in disbelief at the outcome of the defending Class 4A state championship rematch against Bolingbrook.

The Raiders reversed the tables on Young from a year ago, using a stifling defense as the centerpiece of their surprisingly one-sided 53-29 victory over the Dolphins on Saturday night at Redbird Arena.

With freshman sensation Morgan Tuck scoring 15 of her 17 points in the first half, Bolingbrook (25-4) snapped Young's 26-game winning streak in a rematch of last year's inaugural four-class title game.

The Raiders' four losses occurred against nationally ranked powers and Bolingbrook entered the tournament ranked in the top-ten in USA Today's national rankings.

The Raiders left the Dolphins' No. 4 national ranking in the dust as Bolingbrook ended the first quarter with a 10-0 run for a 19-8 advantage. Young never got inside of double figures the rest of the game. "We couldn't lose this game two years in a row," said the precociously gifted Tuck, who added 8 rebounds. "I thought (my first half production) was a result of my teammates getting me the ball in the right position. They had trust in me."

Young turned the ball over 19 times and shot just 27 percent from the field (12-for-45). Young's previous low scoring total was 47 points. The team's lightning-quick guard combination of sophomore Chanise Jenkins (8 points) and Ashlee Anderson was harassed into a combined 3-for-18 shooting from the floor. Senior Porsha Harris led the Dolphins (33-2) with 9 points.

"Our biggest problem was we weren't finishing our shots," said Irvin. "We didn't execute or stay focused on what we planned to do during the game."

"Every year our No. 1 goal is to win state," said Bolingbrook sophomore guard Ariel Massengale (8 points). "I think we came out harder than last year."

Bolingbrook features a punishing man-to-man defense that prevented Young from scoring in double-digits in any of the quarters. Young shot just 6-for-27 from the field in the first half as Bolingbrook grew its lead to 31-14 at the break.

"The start was the key," said Bolingbrook coach Anthony Smith, whose team reached the championship game for the fourth consecutive year. His team captured the 2006 Class AA state championship before posting back-to-back runner up finishes. "Our kids are very skilled."