McMahon's efforts lead Lincoln-Way East

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:22AM

Lincoln-Way East's Caitlin McMahon knew that she he might be in a position to step up for her team.

The junior forward did just that by scoring a career-high 25 points and grabbing 13 rebounds as East rolled past T.F. South 65-41 in the Class 4A Regional final at Crete-Monee Thursday night.

The regional title was the fourth straight for the Griffins (25-5) and fifth in their 10-year history. They also won a Class AA regional in 2003.

East will play Marist, a 52-39 winner over Sandburg at the Shepard regional final, in the Lincoln-Way North sectional semifinals at 8:10 on Monday evening. T.F. South bows out with a record of 14-12.

"The way coach (Jim Martin) had it scouted out, I knew I would be open and have the opportunity to score," McMahon said. "It just came down to doing shot fakes and executing. Our chemistry was just unbelievable tonight."

McMahon outdueled T.F. South 6-foot-4 junior center Dominique Brooks, who was held to seven points and seven rebounds.

East scored the game's first seven points. Rebel senior guard Megan Majors, who finished with a team-high 19 points and nine rebounds, scored consecutive baskets to narrow the score to 7-4.

McMahon then scored 13 points and senior forward Julia Piech added eight as the Griffins went on a 26-5 blitz for a 33-9 lead midway through the second quarter. A pair of McMahon free throws put the Griffins ahead 40-18 at halftime and they outscored T.F South 15-to-1 in the third quarter before coasting home with the win.

Senior guard Taylor Johnson added 15 points for East. Piech finished with 11 and Meaghan McMahon, Caitlin's sophomore sister - who was recently moved up to the varsity, had six points and eight boards.

"We broke down the film and went through the different offensive sets we'd have to run," said Martin of his scouting of T.F. South. "Our girls knew who to look for when they were open, got the ball to Caitlin and she finished."

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