Girls Basketball: Lincoln-Way East overpowers Lincoln-Way North

Updated: December 29, 2011 8:36PM

Primarily a slasher and driver her junior year, Lincoln-Way East’s Taylor Johnson devoted the offseason to developing her jump shot from midrange and three-point.

Showcasing her outside game in Thursday’s Medieval Classic championship game, Johnson scored 17 points, had five steals and dished out five assists in East’s 48-33 win over Lincoln-Way North.

“I feel much more comfortable, and I worked on it over the summer a lot,” Johnson said. “It’s really starting to show in my game, and now I can shoot and drive.”

Johnson was named the tourney MVP, averaging 16 points per game over four contests. The win in the championship was the third in a row for East over rival North and fourth overall.

“It means a lot that the coaches think I’m the MVP, and it’s quite an honor,” Johnson said.

Caitlin McMahon (10 points, 9 rebounds) and Amy Jacobsen (9 points) contributed for Lincoln-Way East (11-0). Ashley Weringa and Taylor Boardman scored eight each for Lincoln-Way North (13-3).

The Griffins stormed to an early lead at 18-4, Johnson scoring 10 points including two three-pointers in the first quarter.

“I don’t think they were ready for me shooting the ball because they’re used to me driving,” Johnson said.

The East defense forced nine first half turnovers as North shot just 2-of-9 overall from the field as the Griffins raced to a commanding 26-9 halftime lead.

“We tried to put pressure on them,” East coach Jim Martin said. “(North) just didn’t get good looks, and when they did it was because we doubled.”

A Weringa three-pointer in the final minute cut the deficit to 13 points, the closest North had been since trailing 16-4 in the first. North finished 11-of-31 from the field.

“Their defense was so aggressive it put us back on our heels,” North coach Jim Nair said. “We never really got into our offense.”

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