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IC Catholic loses semifinal in OT

NORMAL - It was a disappointing loss, but the heads were held high after IC Catholic Prep dropped a 50-41 overtime decision to Breese Central in a Class 2A girls basketball semifinal Friday night at Redbird Arena.

"I felt like both teams were very focused, gave everything that they had," said IC Catholic coach Aubree Schuett. "Absolutely no one could deny that the kids left everything they have on the floor, both teams."

After breezing through the postseason by eliminating their opponents by an average of 31.6 points a game, the Knights found themselves in the rare position of having to make every possession count against a team that would not let them get away.

After a 5-0 run to close the first quarter with an 11-6 lead, IC Catholic maintained a two-possession lead over a stubborn Breese Central until midway through the fourth quarter. That's when a 3-point bucket by the Cougars' Grace Yaunches brought Breese to within 1 and ignited a rally that saw them overtake the Knights and hold a 41-37 advantage with less than a minute to play in regulation.

"Whenever (Yaunches) knocks one in we just seem to go on a big run," said Breese coach Nathan Reuter. "She's the one that kind of busted the lid off for us Monday night in the super. That 3 (tonight) just gave our kids a ton of confidence and a ton of momentum."

With things suddenly looking bleak for the Knights, Erin Maloney buried a 10-foot jump shot from the lane with 32.8 seconds to play followed by the Knights' pressing defense forcing a Breese turnover near midcourt.

IC Catholic honorable mention all-stater Anjella Farmer was then fouled under the basket in a battle for a loose ball with 11.3 seconds to play and calmly went to the line to sink both ends of a 1-and-1 to send the game into overtime.

"We just always strive to be the team that never gives up and always plays with a heart," said Farmer, who led the Knights with 15 points. "That's just always how it is at the end of the game."

The end of Friday night's game saw the Breese defense hold the Knights scoreless in overtime in a game where points were at a premium the entire evening.

For its part the IC Catholic defense did a splendid job of containing Breese Central star Kendra Wilken. With the Cougars collapsing on her each time she touched the ball, Wilken was held to 1-of-10 shooting from the field in the first half and 7 points. She ended the game with 15.

"Our defense could not have been any better," Schuett said. "We were focused on how we wanted to lock down (Wilken) and we did a great job, basically the whole game."

Breese Central converted only 15 percent of its field-goal attempts in the first half but warmed up in the second to end the game at a 31 percent clip. A big difference in the game came at the free-throw line. The Cougars outscored IC Catholic 23-5 there.

IC Catholic shot 39.5 percent from the field and outrebounded Breese 34-27.

The loss relegated the Knights (20-12) to Saturday's 6:30 p.m. third-place game, where they will face Bloomington Central Catholic (23-8). The Saints lost to No. 1 -ranked Bishop McNamara in Friday night's opening game.

"I couldn't be prouder of my kids," Schuett said. "I know they're disappointed and that's natural. But we have another opportunity tomorrow and I asked them to leave it in the locker room and refocus."

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