Morrissey, Saint Viator fend off Carmel's upset bid
Emma Morrissey never has to worry about being second-guessed.
"We are a very good 3-point shooting team," she said. "We always have been, and our coach gives us a lot of freedom."
Morrissey made 4 3-pointers and scored 26 points as Saint Viator withstood Carmel's upset bid for the 77-71 overtime victory in East Suburban Catholic Conference girls basketball action Wednesday night in Arlington Heights.
The Lions (4-1, 2-1) hit a staggering 16 3-pointers.
They needed every one to offset an extraordinary performance by Carmel sophomore Jordan Wood.
The 6-foot-5 all-purpose talent flirted with a triple-double by scoring 26 points and adding 9 rebounds and 9 assists.
Her offensive rebound and assist set up Emma Berg's game-tying 3-pointer with 19 seconds remaining for the 63-63 score at the end of regulation.
Wood's length and elite shot creation as a wing player neutralized the perimeter abilities of the Lions.
Center Grace Sullivan added 14 points for the Corsairs (2-5, 1-2). Berg added 12 points on 4 3-pointers.
"The vision and the passing is something I have really worked on ever since I was in seventh grade," Wood said. "Our point guard last year graduated, and I have played there more this year. I love to be able to read the floor and go to the basket or find our shooters."
Morrissey and the Bergstrom sisters, freshman Mia and junior Joy, put on their own extraordinary shooting exhibit action for the Lions.
Joy Bergstrom scored 17 points, hitting three consecutive 3s during a first quarter flurry.
Mia Bergstrom followed her path at the start of the third quarter with back-to-back 3s igniting a personal 8-0 run that gave the Lions their largest lead at 42-29.
"We try to play free, get it into the paint and kick it out," Mia Bergstrom said. "At the start of the 3rd quarter, I just came out and did what I had to do."
Mia Bergstrom had 5 3-pointers and Joy Bergstrom had 4.
With Wood directing the attack, Carmel refused to yield. Her ability to create out of the high post and from the wing opened the floor for the Corsairs' shooters.
Wood's 2 free throws on the opening possession of overtime put the Corsairs up 65-63. Morrissey answered with a three-point play.
Wood countered with 2 additional free throws for the Corsairs' final lead at 67-66.
Mia Bergstrom nailed a 22-foot 3-pointer from the left wing for the 69-67 lead.
"It felt good," she said.
Saint Viator's starters accounted for all of their points. Point guard Nora Ahram scored on a floater in the lane and converted 2 free throws for a 4-point cushion. Guard Aubrey Horback, who finished with 9 points, made a crucial steal. Morrissey's free throws with 3.7 seconds finally subdued the Corsairs.
"We gave up the lead at one point in overtime, but we kept our composure and we didn't let them speed us up," Morrissey said.