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Young delivers Trinity message before playoffs
Updated: February 11, 2013 7:59PM
CHICAGO — With just under 2 minutes left in a tightly contested first quarter, Trinity sixth-man Mary Dillon hit a 3-pointer against host Whitney Young to give her team a 14-11 lead.
It was the fourth lead change of the quarter.
The fifth lead change would be the last. The No. 2 Dolphins went on a 16-0 run and led for good and turned what was supposed to be a marque matchup into another lopsided win. The 58-41 final wasn’t the expected score between two top-caliber teams.
“If we want to succeed through the (Class 4A) playoffs we will eventually have to go through Whitney Young,” said coach Eddie Stritzel, whose Trinity team along with Young are the top two seeds in the Trinity Sectional. “We better figure this out quick.”
Seven different players scored in the first half for the Dolphins (23-4) when they built a 31-15 lead. Their defense didn’t allow a field goal in the second quarter while outscoring the Blazers (23-4) 14-1.
A Shannon McGinnis’ basket with 6:23 left in the third quarter would be the first field goal for the Blazers since Dillon’s 3. The Dolphins out-rebounded the Blazers 31-16. Leading the way was 5-foot-8 Kentucky recruit Linnae Harper, who had 13 of those rebounds — including seven offensive — to go with 22 points.
“I think my highest rebounding game was 16 or 17,” said Harper, one of three seniors who were celebrated on senior night. “I have a lot of great memories on this court and it was nice to end on a good night. I have no regrets.”
Fellow senior Sydney Snower had two three’s in the first quarter for her only points, while the other senior, Brittany Morris, collected her only points on a 3-pointer in the third quarter.
Annie McKenna scored eight of her 14 in the first quarter for the Blazers before collecting her second foul with 33.7 seconds left in that first and her team down 15-14. She returned midway through the second quarter.
Teammate Taylor Nazon had 13 points but had to be helped off the court at the end of the game after landing awkwardly on her leg.
“We came out with a lot of energy and we knew they were one of the top ranked teams as well,” Snower said. “We wanted to show them this was our home court and we are in to win it.”
