Cary-Grove knocks off Crystal Lake South
With two previous losses to Crystal Lake South and an 11-point deficit early in the second quarter, Cary-Grove's 2013-2014 girls basketball season seemed about over.
But the determined Trojans proved the third time was indeed a charm.
Outscoring the stunned second-seeded Gators 45-24 in the final three quarters, the third-seeded Trojans were able to come back and post a 57-45 win in semifinal action of the Class 4A Cary-Grove Regional Wednesday night.
'Even when we were down early by double digits, we knew there was plenty of time to come back," said Trojans' senior Abby Glaysher. 'We became more focused and were determined not to let South beat us for a third time. The seniors didn't want to end our careers tonight."
The Trojans (18-11) advance to play top-seeded Prairie Ridge (20-8) Friday at 7 p.m. for the regional championship. PR beat the Trojans twice during the Fox Valley Conference season, the second time 50-48 in double overtime.
The Gators looked like a machine in the first quarter primed to blow out the Trojans.
Connecting on 7-of-10 from the field for 70 percent and a perfect 3-of-3 from 3-point range, South led 21-12 after one quarter.
Sara Mickow, who scored her 1,000th career point with a free throw at the 5:57 mark of the first quarter, tallied 8 points during the first 8 minutes. Rachel Rasmussen canned a pair of 3-pointers and Chanel Fanter tallied 5 points with a trey as the Gators held a healthy lead after a quarter.
After a basket by Fanter gave the Gators a 23-12 lead early in the second quarter, the Trojans started mounting a comeback.
Connecting on 9 of 10 from the floor, the Trojans blitzed the Gators with a 20-4 run to end the quarter.
Katie Barker scored 5 points including a 3, Candace Cunningham hit two baskets and Alli Josefowicz canned a 3 as the Trojans turned an 11-point deficit into a 5-point, 32-27 lead at halftime.
"We didn't do anything different in the second quarter from the first quarter," said Cary-Grove coach Rod Saffert, whose team will be seeking the program's fifth straight regional title Friday. "We played better defense and got more kids involved offensively. We gave Barker a lot of help tonight."
The Trojans' biggest lead was 51-38 after a conventional 3-point play by Glaysher with 2:14 remaining.
Barker led the Trojans with 15 points while Glaysher scored 13.
Mickow, a 3-year starter for the Gators ended a remarkable career with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Fanter scored 14 points and Rasmussen 11.
"Give Cary-Grove all the credit," said South coach Kyle McCaughn. "They made the adjustments and played a great game."