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Girls Basketball: Andrea McNally’s clutch free throws seal Hinsdale South win
Updated: December 10, 2011 11:00PM
Andrea McNally has been on the free-throw line only one other time with the game on the line during her three-year career.
Hinsdale South’s senior guard made two free throws with 13.5 seconds left to help the Hornets beat Downers Grove South 39-36 Saturday night in a West Suburban Gold showdown in Darien.
The last time McNally made game-winning free throws was exactly two years ago from Saturday night when she converted a pair of free throws in Hinsdale South’s 64-61 victory over St. Joseph in Darien.
McNally had to overcome a difficult shooting performance — 1-for-6 from the floor — before knocking down the free throws, which came when she was fouled by Katelyn Kubal on a breakaway to the basket off an in-bounds play.
“It’s tough when you’re not shooting, but my team picked me up,” McNally said. “As far as free throws go, you have to be able get your mind and everything else out and try to focus on that.”
McNally finished with only four points while Ozu Okoro led the Hornets (6-1, 3-0) with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Downers South (6-2, 2-2) had two opportunities to take the final shot, but could not convert. The game ended on Erin Bommerbach’s missed three-pointer at the buzzer that bounced off the back iron off an in-bounds pass from Sarrah Ludwig.
“We’re still learning as a team,” DGS coach Ellen O’Brien said. “We try to come together, but we have a few growing pains.”
Alison Dec led DGS with 14 points while Kirsten Zemke added eight points.
The Mustangs lost for the second time in three games while Hinsdale South won for the fourth consecutive time, despite shooting 15-of-48 from the floor. Downers South’s first loss was to defending conference champion Proviso East. The Hornets play at Proviso East (7-2, 3-0) at 6 p.m. Dec. 16.
“This is a good win. It helps us with momentum for Proviso,” Hornets coach Jen Belmonte said. “Proviso is tough. They will give us a great battle.”
Before McNally’s free throws, Okoro made two free throws to give the Hornets a 37-34 lead with 1:11 remaining. Dec responded with a turnaround layup with 52 seconds.
“To create a game-like [atmosphere], we run sprints before we practice free throws,” McNally said. “Then we are all really tired. It helps with the nerves.”
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