Girls basketball: Andriana Moore, East Chicago advance to regionals

Updated: February 11, 2012 11:28PM

MUNSTER — As the final seconds ticked off the clock, East Chicago Central center Andriana Moore started to cradle the ball in her arms before hurling it above her head.

What she and her teammates had worked so hard for since the beginning of practice in mid-October came to fruition Saturday night in a 68-59 victory over Lake Central, the defending Class 4A Sectional champions.

“This means so much to me, and my teammates,’’ said Moore, who turned in an incredible performance for the Cardinals (17-6) in the title game of the Class 4A Munster Sectional.

Moore recorded game-highs of 25 points and 19 rebounds to lead the Cardinals to their first sectional title since 2006.

“This is my first time winning it,’’ Moore said. “This is for my sister, Teeuntra, Malyra Carter and my mom (Latusha Herring), and, of course, for me and my teammates, too. We all wanted it so bad. We wanted to win the sectional last year but lost to them.’’

Lake Central beat the Cards in overtime in the first round a year ago and went on to win the sectional title.

“Moore played absolutely great — she’s one of the top players in the area. I don’t know what else to say about Andriana,’’ E.C. Central coach Eric Kundich said. “She’s amazing. She puts our team on her back every night and carries us. It’s not just her scoring and rebounding.

She exemplifies what a leader should be. We’re just a lot more stable when she’s on the floor.’’

The loss was a tough one for the Indians (13-10) to swallow after they outscored E.C. Central 24-18 in the third period to tie the game at 46.

Even without super freshman, Tiajaney Hawkins, who scored 13 points before leaving the game with an injury to her right shoulder with 32.3 seconds left in the third quarter, the Cardinals didn’t fold in the fourth quarter.

“We felt like we lost the sectional when we lost to Lake Central last year,’’ Kundich said. “We told the kids before the game that this was our revenge game, so leave it all out on the floor tonight.’’

The Cardinals did exactly that as senior guard Shanterra Jones scored 12 points and Dariyelle Ricks added 11.

“Moore killed us, she absolutely killed us,’’ LC coach Leslie Iwema said. “She killed us on the boards. Hawkins kicked our butts on the boards, too. I think that was the difference in the game. We did not get defensive boards like we needed to. They were getting offensive boards off the charts, too.

The Indians struggled at the free throw line, hitting only 19 of 33 attempts.

“I think it was a little bit of fatigue, maybe, and possibly a little bit of pressure,’’ Iwema said. “I think we might have been pressing a little bit, too.’’

Senior Nikki Adams led LC with 15 points, while Lizzie Seymour had 12 and Jessica Bell added 11.

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