Montini repeats as state champion
NORMAL — Whitney Adams and her Montini teammates were convinced Hillcrest still doubted them, as unbelievable as the thought sounds.
So the Broncos left no doubt this time.
In a rematch of last year's Class 3A final at Redbird Arena, the No. 1 Broncos beat Hillcrest 67-45 Saturday to win their second straight state championship.
Montini (36-1) won last year's final 64-53. In that game then-Hillcrest star Uniquah Hampton left the game early in the fourth quarter of a six-point game with an injury and didn't return.
“They said they were ready for this game since last year,” Adams said. “People were saying that it was a fluke that we won because their best player went down. We wanted to come out and prove them wrong.”
Montini never trailed this time after an 11-0 start, joining its football and wrestling teams as repeat state champions. Montini also became only the second DuPage County school to repeat in girls basketball, joining Candace Parker's 2003-04 Naperville Central teams.
Notre Dame-bound point guard Whitney Holloway scored 19 points and North Carolina-bound Adams had 16 points and 10 rebounds for Montini. The Broncos beat their seven playoff opponents by an average margin of 28.9 points.
“You can never expect to have a season like that, especially in the championship game,” Holloway said. “It shows the kind of talent and coaching we have. To win one state championship is great. Winning two in a row is even better.”
Montini, which hit a state finals record 12 3s in last year's championship game, made 11 on Saturday, giving the Broncos 264 for the season. That is the second-best total all-time, according to the IHSA record books.
“Good guard play and kids who can shoot it,” Montini coach Jason Nichols said. “It's like Geno (Auriemma) always says at UConn — you win with guards.”
Hillcrest became the 11th team receiving votes in Illinois 3A or 4A polls to go down against Montini, all but one by double figures.
“A lot of teams thought they could beat us,” Adams said. “They don't realize all the weapons we have.”
Montini led 22-15 with 2:47 left in the second quarter, before ending the half on a 9-0 run. Adams hit a jumper off an inbounds play, and Holloway scored off a turnover and made a 3. An Adams 3 to start the second half made it 34-15, and the rout was on.
Adams, in a shooting slump throughout the playoffs, missed 7 of her first 8 shots but got hot in the second half with three 3s.
“In the first half I shot, like, 3 or 4 airballs,” Adams said, “but Jason told me to just keep shooting.”
Wisconsin-Milwaukee recruit Kiki Wilson scored 9 points, her double-clutch 30-footer as time expired in the third quarter making it 44-28.
“I knew if I made that shot it would give the team momentum going into the fourth quarter,” Wilson said. “Everything happens for a reason.”
Montini senior Kasey Reaber, who won a state championship as a sophomore at Driscoll shortly before it closed its doors, had 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Tianna Brown also had 9 rebounds.
“I am filled with so much emotion,” Reaber said. “This is my team now and it feels great to win with these girls.”
Samirah Ali scored 15 points and Shannise Heady 8 for Hillcrest (29-3). The Hawks missed 10 straight free throws during one stretch, and 5 layups in the first quarter.