Schaafsma's efforts lead Bishop Mac

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:18AM

Belinda Schaafsma can beat a team in a variety of ways.

The 6-1 senior center proved that Monday night at the Class 2A Willowbrook Supersectional. Despite being held without a basket until the fourth quarter, Schaafsma played a huge role in Bishop McNamara's 48-42 victory over Walther Lutheran.

Schaafsma finished with seven points, six rebounds and seven assists, the last of which led to a backdoor layup by Nicole Coglianese, who was fouled and converted the three-point play with 52.4 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

That play triggered a decisive 7-0 run by the Fightin' Irish (22-8), who advanced to the state semifinals for the second straight season and third time in the last four years. McNamara, which knocked out Walther Lutheran on the same court and in the same round last year, will take on defending state champion Bloomington Central Catholic in Friday's second semifinal at Redbird Arena in Normal.

"I think [Schaafsma] did a really good job of seeing open people and getting us the ball when we were open," said McNamara forward Erika Tatum, who scored 16 of her game-high 22 points in the second half. "We wouldn't have gotten a lot of looks without her, so she did a really good job."

Schaafsma consistently passed out of double-teams both down low and from the high post. She scored only one basket and was held to just four field goal attempts, but she also made 5 of 6 free throws, including both ends of a one-and-one with 21.7 seconds left to make it 46-40.

"I think I do a good job of seeing open people, but people like Erika and Mel [LaReau] do a really good job of spotting up and getting open in the right spots," Schaafsma said.

It was Tatum, who burned the Broncos for 27 points and 12 rebounds in last year's 51-38 supersectional win, who took full advantage, sinking all seven of her shots in the second half. The 5-10 senior scored 11 points in the third quarter off two assists apiece from Schaafsma and LaReau, including a bucket that gave the Irish their largest lead, 30-21.

But Walther Lutheran (27-5), which had its 15-game winning streak snapped and hadn't lost since dropping a 55-32 decision to McNamara on Jan. 5, gamely fought back behind the shooting of sisters Morgan and Melanie Ransom, who combined to sink six three-pointers.

Melanie Ransom, who led the Broncos with 16 points, drained three treys in the fourth quarter and assisted on Morgan Ransom's three that pulled Walther within 41-40 with 1:14 remaining.

"My hat's off to Walther," said McNamara coach Jeff Bennett, whose club made 11 of 16 shots in the second half. "They kept coming, knocked down some threes. I thought our kids were resilient and did a great job when they kept coming back. There's a big prize at the end of this game. We're pleased to go back to a Final Four."

In the end, the Irish believed the experience of their all-senior starting lineup pulled them through.

"We were a little nervous," Tatum said. "It seems like every game this playoff run we've had a little stretch where [the opponent] just don't miss. So we're kind of used to it and we knew we needed to come out and make shots of our own and just play a little harder defense."

LaReau and Sarah Kidwell both scored six points for McNamara. Morgan Ransom had nine points and JoQuitta Walker seven points and four assists for Walther.

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