Articles

UN "FOUR" GETTABLE

By: Rooster

It took four overtime periods to unseat the Bolingbrook Lady Raider basketball team from its championship run that extended over six seasons. For the first time since 2005, there will not be a Bolingbrook team represented at the Class 4A IHSA final four after losing 74-65 to their nemesis Whitney Young in quadrupal overtime at the Class 4A Hinsdale Central supersectional Monday night.

Bolingbrook (27-2) dominated in the first quarter using a 9-0 run to build an 11-2 lead in a blistering pace that saw Connecticut bound senior forward Morgan Tuck light up the scoreboard with seven points, an assist and a steal to get the Raiders pointed in the right direction and midway through the second quarter holding a 22-9 lead, there was no reason to believe that Bolingbrook wouldn't coast to another blow out victory but this was undefeated Whitney Young (32-0).

With 6:12 remaining in the half the Dolphins got fire and turned to their leader, Janee Thompson who led the charge back scoring nine of her game high 34 points cutting the lead to only five, 32-27 at the break.

In the third it looked as if neither team could get an advantage when the two teams combined for more turnovers than points and finished the quarter with Bolingbrook holding a slim 36-34 lead.

In the fourth things didn't seem to improve for the Raiders missing key layups and three critical turnovers that saw their lead slip away 43-42 on two Thompson free throws with 1:41 left to play and with 7.2 seconds left to play in regulation, Thompson hit another pair from the charity stripe giving the Dolphins a 47-44 advantage.

Bolingbrook's Keiera Ray dribbled to the top of three-point arc and put up an off

balanced shot that found the bottom of the net at the final buzzer to tie the game and force overtime 47-47.

In overtime, Bolingbrook's Nia Moore split a pair of free throws followed by a Tuck layup that put the Raiders up 50-47. The game was tied once again at 52 apiece and Bolingbrook had a chance but Tuck couldn't get a desperation three to drop forcing a second overtime. In the third overtime the Raiders once again held a three point 63-60 lead but the Dolphins Alexis Lloyd grabbed a rebound and drove for a layup with 9.3 seconds left and was fouled converting an amazing three point play to force yet another overtime period.

In the fourth and final overtime period, the Dolphins finally cracked the Raiders who failed to keep the pace and stormed the floor in a tearful celebration after two made Thompson free throws iced the victory. The tears flowed for Bolingbrook as well as their fans stood and applauded the effort their team put out.

"It was a great ride. We had eight great seniors out there and Morgan Tuck has been a great player for us and I feel the player of the year, she's a top notched kid. I been blessed with a lot of great kids and hopefully we have some young kids out there that want to keep this thing going," said Raider coach Tony Smith after the loss. "This isn't a great feeling, it hurts. Losing is not fun they had a great effort though and I can't blame the kids, I take this loss on my chin."

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