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Doyle scores 31 in Benet win vs. Oswego East

Kathleen Doyle made it clear early in Thursday's Class 4A Benet girls basketball sectional final: Oswego East had a big problem, and she was it.

The Benet senior point guard took control of the game almost from the start and never let go. She finished with 31 points, tying her personal best, grabbed 12 rebounds, dished 4 assists and blocked 1 shot. Benet held off a late Oswego East charge to win 68-60.

"I was just playing a little bit better offensively," said Doyle, who finished with 11 points in Monday's semifinal after a scoreless first half. "I think I was sort of in a funk, but my teammates picked me up on Monday and it didn't matter. They had faith in me tonight to bounce back. I don't know. I guess it was just kind of my night."

"She's an amazing player, and I love playing with her," Benet junior Katie Jaseckas said. "She has this will in her that she always wants to do better and better. Every game she gets even better. She gives off energy to the rest of the team, which really helps."

Benet (29-3) will play Edwardsville at 7 p.m. Monday in the Bloomington supersectional hoping for a return trip to the Final Four. Benet is the defending Class 4A champion.

"(Doyle) is a great player," Oswego East coach Abe Carretto said. "That's why she's getting a full ride to Nebraska. She's a floor leader, a good general, more than just getting the points. She leads the team. ...

"It's just hard to stop her. If you're in a zone or a man (defense), it's tough, because then she's going to find that open player when you come to help out."

Oswego East (27-3) looked good in the opening minutes, when 6-foot-2 post player Sydney Schultz scored her 6 points and blocked 3 Benet shots. The Redwings found their footing, however, and led 19-8 by the end of the first quarter. It was 35-23 at halftime.

Benet built a 49-28 lead late with 2:28 left in the third quarter on a pair of Doyle free throws, but the Wolves started to whittle away at their deficit from there, taking advantage of some Benet fouls and forcing some Benet turnovers.

"Toward the end of the third quarter we talked about just needing to get stops," Carretto said. "With 2½ minutes to go in the third, there's still 10½ to go in the game. Even though you're playing the defending state champs, anything is possible."

A Ty Battle steal and layup with 2:42 to play cut the lead to 59-50.

"We knew they were going to go on a run at least once in the game," Jaseckas said. "We just knew we had to keep going. This is what we waited for this whole season."

Jaseckas answered Battle with a pair of baskets, and the Redwings hit enough free throws in the final minutes to secure the win.

"It was an exciting game," Doyle said. "I mean, who wouldn't get excited for a sectional championship on your home court?"

Jaseckas added 19 points and 7 rebounds. Stout finished with 11 points.

Battle scored 26 points for the Wolves, and Jesinde Thomas added 13.

Follow Orrin on Twitter @Orrin_Schwarz

Images: Benet claims sectional title with a 68-60 win over Oswego East in girls basketball

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