Maine South stops York rally just in time
For three quarters Maine South and York had great success on defense against each other but couldn't translate that success into much offense.
In the fourth quarter each team took a turn using its defense to create offense.
Maine South saw a fourth-quarter double-digit lead cut to 2 but held on for a 38-34 nonconference girls basketball victory in Elmhurst on Wednesday night.
Leading 26-23 entering the fourth, the Hawks went on a 9-1 run, taking a 35-24 lead with 6:15 to play on a Nicole Gardiner steal and layup.
"We were feeling good," said Hawks junior guard Niki Manolis. "We were definitely on a little run. It was because of our hard defense. We were playing hard, causing some turnovers, and that was good. Our presses are one of our strengths so I think we were trying to focus on that to try and get some turnovers and get some easy baskets."
York (16-5) took the idea and ran with it, cutting the Maine South (14-5) lead to 36-34 with 2:52 to go on a Sydney Molis basket.
"We went up there in the fourth quarter and credit to them, that's what good basketball teams do," Maine South coach Jeff Hamann said. "They don't quit, they fight back. We missed some free throws. So we're proud of a road win against a very quality opponent regardless of what the score was."
The Dukes never could find that tying basket late in the game.
"I think we were a little tired," Manolis added. "I'm not sure why. We were just losing it a little bit, but we just had to focus in and get ourselves together. We kept reminding each other, just slow it down, we have to take control and we'll be OK."
It was a disappointing finish for a tired York team that took a tough West Suburban Conference Silver Division victory at Glenbard West on Tuesday night.
"I'm proud of the way we came out and played," York coach Brandon Collings said. "I think we did a lot of good things. That's a tough team. That's a team you don't come ready to play and they'll bury you. I thought defensively we did a good job."
Manolis led the Hawks with 13 points, hitting four 3-pointers. Senior forward Greta Miller added 10 points.
Senior guard Sara Krissinger scored 16 points to lead York, and Molis totaled 8 points.
"We love playing the best. We welcome the best. And we felt playing a opponents like York, a very quality opponent like them, makes us better. And that's our goal. Win or lose, it makes us better," Hamann said.