Bowman outlasts Oilers
By Candace Buckner Post-Tribune correspondent February 10, 2012 11:20PM
Bearcats Tijana Raketic fights for the rebound with Eagles Liz Rivera at River Forest High School in Lake Station on Friday Feb 10, 2012. | Jim Karczewski~for Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 12, 2012 8:07AM
LAKE STATION — Bowman Academy had previously beaten Whiting twice this season, however the Eagles ran into a different rival on Friday night — one that wouldn’t lay down easily in the 2A sectional semifinals.
Still, Bowman defeated Whiting 68-55 at River Forest as senior Princess German scored 24 points and senior RaShawnda Dunlap chipped in 22.
The Eagles, 18-6 and a previous 1A sectional champ, now advance to their first 2A sectional title game tonight.
Bowman charged to an 11-1 run to start the first quarter but Whiting never wilted. Instead of a fast start, the Oilers (16-7) played steady basketball. In the third quarter, Whiting came all the way back when sophomore guard Citlali Lopez launched from 3-point territory and evened the score at 38-38.
“(Friday) was a totally different Whiting from what we saw and we prepared for,” coach Janora Holmes said. “I told our girls, we need to settle down and we need to do what we’re supposed to do.”
That advice meant getting out in transition so German caught an outlet pass and created a one-woman fast break for the layup. German followed with another easy basket and, in an additional transition break, Dunlap scored from the left block.
This prompted a Whiting timeout, but soon after the huddle, Bowman sophomore DeJah Joshua jumped the passing lane and ran undeterred for yet another layup. The 8-0 run energized Bowman, which maintained its lead to the end.
In the semifinal opener, Wheeler jumped to an early lead and held on against Lake Station, 42-30.
“The early pressing and trapping definitely … gave us a cushion,” coach Dustin Nelson said. “I was pleased with the way we defended the basket early on.”
No other play exemplified Wheeler’s first-quarter defense better than when 6-foot sophomore Nickole Finch rushed back on defense and took the charge against Lake Station sophomore guard JoAnna Dwyer.
The play wiped out a fast break layup and preserved Wheeler’s 14-2 first-quarter edge.
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