Sports
Girls Basketball: Marian Catholic Surges Past Marist for L-W North Sectional Title
Marian Catholic 57, Marist 42. Foul trouble plagues the Spartans, but team depth helps finish off the Redhawks.
The Hot Read: Marian Catholic standout Simone Law picked up her third foul just six seconds into the second half and didn't convert a field goal after halftime. But Marist couldn’t take full advantage in Thursday night’s Class 4A Lincoln-Way North Sectional final. Marist trailed 24-18 at halftime but couldn’t get any closer than 24-20 in the second half. Marist's Randyll Butler split a pair of free throws with 1:50 left in the third quarter to make it a 35-30 contest, but Marian closed the quarter with a 7-0 run to take an impressive 42-30 lead into the final quarter en route to a 57-42 victory.
Patch's MVP: Marian Catholic's Jasmine Matthews scored 14 points, but just as important was her leadership in the third quarter when starters Jamie Johnson, Megan Walsh and Simone Law each picked up their third foul.
Key Stats: Marist missed its first seven free throws and was just 13-of-32 from the line in the contest. Marian Catholic made 22 of 32 of its free throws. Marist did not receive a field goal from its bench until the final minute of the game when Ann Symonanis drained a 3-pointer with 30 seconds remaining.
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Marian Catholic’s Leaders: Simone Law (15 points, 12 rebounds), Jasmine Matthews (14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists), Jamie Johnson (9 points, 6 rebounds), Megan Walsh (4 points, 7 rebounds) and Amber Williams (6 points, 6 rebounds).
Marist’s Leaders: Asiana Bey (12 points, 9 rebounds), Jetaun Rouse (9 points, 6 rebounds), Leah Bolton (4 points, 7 rebounds) and Randyll Butler (6 points, 7 rebounds).
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Quotable: Marian Catholic's Jasmine Matthews on the key to victory: "We were ready from the very start. We knew we just had to keep our composure. We knew it was going to be an exciting game and just took our time and made sure we did what we needed to do to be successful."
Marist coach Mary Pat Connolly on her young team's final game of the season: "I'm so proud of everyone on the team. We started three sophomores and two juniors all year and made it to 27-6, and that's something to be proud of. They just have to remember this and know how important free throws are in big games. We tell them that free throws and defense win championships, and we had the defense but didn't have the free throws."
Team Records: Marian Catholic: 30-4; Marist 27-6.
What's Next: Marist's season is complete. Marian Catholic will face Whitney Young in the St. Xavier Supersectional at 7:30 p.m. on Monday. Whitney Young trounced Mother McAuley 84-48 on Thursday.
