Free throws cost Aurora Christian in state finale

NORMAL - It is at the top of the cliché list in basketball.

But Hume (Shiloh) truly underscored close games are captured at the free-throw line in the third-place game of the Class 1A girls basketball tournament Saturday afternoon at Illinois State University.

Hume converted 20 consecutive fourth-quarter free throws to keep Aurora Christian at bay in winning 64-59.

"Fouls were our downfall," said Aurora Christian standout Anna Griffin, who posted her second consecutive double-double at the Final Four with a team-best 22 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. "We should have just played good defense and tried to get the ball back. That didn't have to be the case."

Aurora Christian, which had never won a sectional game in program history prior to its historic run, finished the season at 30-6.

The Eagles fought back valiantly after falling behind 31-21 at halftime.

Griffin was superlative throughout for Aurora Christian in keeping the Eagles competitive.

But it was sophomore sharpshooting guard Lexi Lamanna who spearheaded the Eagles' second-half comeback attempt.

One of the top-eight players who will return for coach Burney Wilkie next season, Lamanna hit three bombs - one at the end of the third quarter and two to begin the fourth quarter - to keep Aurora Christian in the picture.

"When Lexi shoots and extends the floor, we are a better team," Wilkie said.

"I had a feel for the court," said Lamanna, who ultimately scored all 15 of her points on five 3-pointers.

Aurora Christian was trailing by 9 points midway through the fourth quarter before springing a suddenly effective trap on Hume with only minutes to play.

"I thought we looked tired for most of the game," Wilkie admitted.

Aurora Christian would trim its double-digit halftime deficit to a single possession four times in the fourth quarter.

"We all understood that it was our time," said Griffin, who had three 3-pointers of her own on the afternoon.

But Hume (29-6) was simply flawless at the free-throw line on every single occasion to retain its various leads.

Tayler Barry, who pumped home a game-high 30 points for Hume, was impeccable in 12 fourth-quarter attempts.

"I don't even think she hit the rim," Lamanna said of Barry.

"I have my special work buckets," Barry said. "That helped calm me down a lot."

Aspen Weeks, the Eagles' freshman point guard, twice brought Aurora Christian within a mere point on two free throws and a 3-pointer late in the game.

But Hume, which ended the game 25-for-27 at the free-throw line, discovered an elixir to retain the lead.

Griffin, Lamanna and Weeks, the third Aurora Christian player in double digits with 10 points, all fouled out.

Bella Dudley complemented Barry with 19 points for Hume.