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Girls Basketball: Maine South gets third straight regional vs Niles North
Updated: February 16, 2012 9:32PM
Maine South won its third regional championship in a row Tuesday with its 64-44 win over Niles North in Skokie.
The celebration was slightly subdued after Jacqui Grant hurt her right ankle late in the fourth quarter. The 6-foot-3 junior center went to the bench with 2:58 to go in the game and was on crutches as the No. 16-ranked and top-seeded Hawks cut down the nets at Niles North.
“It’s always scary when someone goes down like that,” said Maine South senior point guard Michelle Maher.
Maine South (25-6) plays either Evanston or Loyola on Tuesday at the New Trier Sectional. The Hawks are looking for their fourth sectional championship since 2006.
“Our trainer said I will rest Friday and try to get a little practice in Saturday,” said Grant, who finished with a team-high 23 points. “I will try a full practice Monday.”
Mariyah Henley scored the first basket of the game, but Maher followed with a three-pointer to give the Hawks the lead for good. Grant scored four points during a second-quarter run that put them in control of the game.
Maine South increased its advantage to as many as 17 in the third quarter before Alissa Hirsh hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to leave the score 48-34 in favor of the Hawks.
Maine South then went 9-for-13 on free throws in the fourth quarter to prevent Niles North from rallying. The Hawks only turned over the ball seven times in the game.
“We knew it would be a tough game,” said Maher, who scored 12 points. “But as long as we played our game and focused on the details we would be fine.”
Henley, who will play college ball at Lewis, led all scorers with 32 points. Hirsh added nine in the loss. The Vikings (17-13) last won a regional title in 2004.
“We have learned from history, and we are enjoying the moment,” Maine South coach Mark Smith said.
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