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Girls Basketball: Oak Lawn protects leads for win over Romeoville
Updated: December 20, 2011 9:31PM
The big lead melted away like butter.
But the small one? Oak Lawn held on to that like a dog with its favorite rag in Tuesday’s 63-56 victory over Romeoville in a third-round battle at the Oak Lawn Girls Holiday Basketball Tournament.
LaTondra Brooks scored 20 points and pulled down 16 rebounds while Brooke Annerino contributed 16 points as Oak Lawn (8-4) advanced to Wednesday’s title game against Lincoln-Way North.
Kiera Currie had 25 points and eight rebounds, Brianna Harris 12 points and nine rebounds and Angelica Osusky 10 points for Romeoville (9-2).
Oak Lawn led by as much as 36-21 early in third period, only to see Romeoville produce a three-minute explosion and get to within four.
In the end, it came down to free throws.
The four biggest were shot with less than a minute remaining by Oak Lawn’s Katie Gulino, who swished them all.
“No nerves,” Gulino said. “We shoot free throws so much during practice that it doesn’t even matter during the game. ”
Romeoville had drawn to within 58-56 on a layup by Currie with exactly one minute showing when Gulino was fouled and converted. After a miss by Romeoville was rebounded by Brooks, Gulino was again sent to the line, and was deadeye.
The 5-foot-6 Brooks was tenacious against Romeoville’s taller players going for rebounds under the basket. She also was fearless on drives despite a scary fall with less than one second remaining in the first half on which she banged the inside of her left knee.
“I thought my season was over,” she said.
Brooks, however, was able to return for the second half. Romeoville’s Hillary VanMeerten had a similar fall in the second period, but also was able to return in the second half.
Osusky triggered Romeoville’s outburst in the third quarter, hitting for seven points. She added a three-pointer at the outset of the fourth to get her team to within 43-41.
But while Romeoville was able to stay close the rest of the way, it couldn’t get over the hump.
“We didn’t play well, especially in the first half,” Romeoville coach Julio Carrasco said. “I think we’re reading too many press clippings, I’ll be honest with you.
“I’m going to put a stop to that because, you know, we lost that game last week go Oswego East and the girls got a little down, and I don’t think we’ve recouped from that.
“If they want to read the press clippings, they’d better compete like the people in the press clippings. We’re not doing that right now.”
Rich East 63, Evergreen Park 30: Gelina Webb had 15 points and Danielle King 12 for Rich East (10-5). Evergreen Park was led by Jasmine Elem (10 points).
Lincoln-Way North 51, Richards 16: Ashley Weringa (14 points) and Sam Pietruszynski (9) led North (9-2) into the title game. Hannah Jenkins had five points for Richards (7-4).
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