Young's defense just too tough

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:18AM

You've got to be really quick if you want to get past the full-court pressure Linnae Harper and her Young teammates bring.

Bogan wasn't quick enough Tuesday. Led by the all-around efforts of Harper, Young forced the Bengals into 39 turnovers and cruised to a 66-26 victory at the Class 4A Lyons Sectional semifinals in LaGrange.

Bogan (20-13), which lost 75-36 to the Dolphins in the Public League semifinals on Feb. 9, scored the game's first basket, only to see Young rip off the next 16 points, most of them off steals and other turnovers.

"Since this is playoffs we come out with a different mindset, knowing that if you lose one game you're out," Harper said. "So we just want to come out and play hard and have intensity every possession of the game because each possession counts."

Harper, a 5-8 sophomore, had 14 points, 10 rebounds and four steals, most of which came in the first quarter as Young (24-2) built a 24-10 lead. Utilizing their full-court press to devastating effect, the Dolphins went on an 11-0 run in the second quarter to increase their cushion to 36-13 en route to a 44-20 halftime lead.

Bogan, which was held scoreless for a stretch of 13:36 in the second half, struggled mightily just getting the ball over the time line. The Bengals were whistled for three five-second calls and one 10-second violation and the Dolphins made 24 steals.

"We just want the people with the least ballhandling skills to get the ball so we can deny everybody else," Harper said. "[That way] we can get the 10-second count.

"I think we played good. We still have some things to work on. We're just trying to execute all our plays and work on the little things during these games so when it comes to big games we know we can execute everything."

The Dolphins, who have not lost to an in-state team this season, received 18 points, six steals and five rebounds from DePaul-bound guard Chanise Jenkins. Kiana Johnson had eight points, five steals and three assists and Janee Thompson came off the bench to chip in eight points and four steals.

Forward Alexis Lloyd had six points and two steals and helped hold Bogan's leading scorer, Ariel Haynes, without a point on 0 for 2 shooting. Bogan's second-best player, sophomore Brandey Tarver, also took only two shots, scoring two points before fouling out in the third quarter. China Davis paced the Bengals with eight points.

"[Harper] has a real good sense for the ball," Young coach Corry Irvin said. "That's one of things that her strength."

So which player is the key to the full-court press?

"I think they are all important because their roles change," Irvin said. "I think at times [the press] is really good. There's some things that we've got to work on, adjustments we have to make as far everybody knowing what we're trying to do when we make adjustments, but I think it's starting to click."

Mother McAuley 57, St. Ignatius 44: Sitting for long stretches of Tuesday's sectional semifinal with foul trouble, Mother McAuley's Molly Stasaitis was held to a quiet eight points.

With their leading scorer limited on the court, Brenna Nolan, Alyssa Siwek and the Mighty Macs stepped up in her place.

Mother McAuley took an early double-digit lead on its way to a 57-44 win over St. Ignatius in the Class 4A Lyons sectional.

"Molly's our point guard, and she's always in the lead taking over for us," Nolan said. "Someone has to step up, and we tried to take over."

Mother McAuley advances to Thursday's final against top-seeded Young, a rematch of last years sectional final.

Nolan finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and four steals while Siwek added 17 points for McAuley (20-11). Alison Jeffirs had 19 points for St. Ignatius (16-15) in the loss.

Playing Ignatius for the third time this season, the Macs wasted little time establishing an early lead in the rubber match.

A 13-2 run out of the gate set the tone early with Nolan scoring the first five points including a basket early on a pass from Tatianna Ingram and a three-pointer from the top of the key.

Stasaitis added two scores, Siwek had a fast break layup, and Ingram scored on an up-and-under as part of the run.

"We knew we had to come out strong," Nolan said. "We've lost to them before and knew we had to step it up, make sure we took control of the game at our pace."

St. Ignatius got as close as seven points late in the second quarter at 27-20 before McAuley extended the lead to double digits again.

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