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Girls Basketball: Make that three-for-three
Updated: January 19, 2012 10:26PM
HAMMOND — The third time wasn’t a charm for Bishop Noll as Whiting blitzed the Warriors early and then cruised to a 54-44 in the semifinals of the Greater South Shore Conference tourney.
The victory was Whiting’s third over Bishop Noll this season and the scripts have largely been the same — big first quarter advantage leads to a blowout.
Thursday’s contest looked like it might play the same as the Oilers took a 14-2 first-quarter lead. Brianna Blackwell scored eight points in the quarter, including two 3-pointers, one of which just beat the buzzer.
Instead of packing it in for the night, Bishop Noll (9-8) made a game of it with an 8-0 run to start the second quarter and cut the Oilers’ lead to four points.
Warriors point guard Julia Kusiak made a couple of steals, scored two baskets, and assisted on another to spark the rally.
“I’m proud of the girls for showing some heart,” said Bishop Noll coach Vanita Gary. “But that first quarter just killed us. I told the girls we would have to play four quarters to win.”
The Warriors could never get closer than four points, though, as Citali Lopez scored eight of Whiting’s 12 points in the quarter to subdue the threat.
Bishop Noll closed to within six points a couple of times in the fourth quarter, but Blackwell and Lopez both responded with 3-pointers to maintain the Oilers’ advantage.
“That’s 10 (3-pointers) in two games for Blackwell,” said Whiting coach Kevin Moynihan. “I think she might lead the area. We have some girls who can shoot the basketball.”
Blackwell led all scorers with 22 points and Lopez kicked in 16. Kusiak’s 14 points led the Warriors. Whiting (13-4) moves on to Saturday night’s championship game at Calumet against the winner of Wheeler and Calumet.
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