Girls Basketball: Morgan Park’s Kendyl Nunn keeps her cool vs Bogan

Updated: February 2, 2012 9:06PM

Kendyl Nunn kept her cool when the game was at its craziest. The Morgan Park senior took over the game down the stretch to lead the Mustangs to a 54-51 victory over Bogan in the second game of the Public League girl’s semifinal at Chicago State University on Thursday.

Morgan Park (19-7) will take on Whitney Young in the title game at 2 P.M. on Saturday at Chicago State.

``I wanted the ball in my hands at the end of the game,’’ Nunn said, who finished with 23 points. ``I was just being patient and keeping it in control.’’

The basketball genes are strong in the Nunn family. Her younger brother, Kendrick, plays for top-ranked Simeon and that talent showed itself out at the end of the game.

Nursing a three point lead in the final two minutes, Nunn and Debra Jenkins played keep-away with the ball until an opportunity arose. Nunn took advantage by scoring six points in the final minutes. From her guard position, she twice drove the lane for layups including one that opened the lead to 52-49 with 27 seconds remaining.

``She is a senior and a four year starter for us,’’ Morgan Park coach Thomas Johnson said. ``She put the team on her back.’’

Nunn converted a pair of free throws that seemingly iced the game for the Mustangs with 14 seconds left and a 54-49 lead.

Bogan (19-8) never quit though as China Davis converted a layup and then the Bengals forced a turnover with six seconds remaining. Jasmine Harris’ trey came up short at the buzzer.

The Bengals overcame an early deficit and were leading 31-27 midway through the third quarter when Latrece Harris was whistled for a technical. That foul started a string of free throws for the Mustangs who stepped to the line for 10 more free throw attempts in the third quarter.

Marsha Howard put Morgan Park ahead for good on a layup with 1:30 left in the third quarter. That bucket came in the middle of a 14-3 run for the Mustangs.

Sahmi Goodman added 14 for Morgan Park. Caitlan Garanet led Bogan with 10 points. Latrece Harris pulled down 11 rebounds.

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