Super heartbreak
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| The Annawan Bravettes fight their emotions as they leave the court after falling in Monday’s supersectional at the Shirk Center. (BCR photo/Ashley Schrader) |
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BLOOMINGTON — It came down to the final six seconds in the Bloomington 1A Supersectional for the Annawan girls basketball team.
The Bravettes had several chances to steal the game from the LeRoy Panthers Monday night at the Shirk Center at Illinois Wesleyan University, but missed baskets were key in LeRoy’s dethroning of the No. 1 ranked Annawan team, 56-53.
“These girls, they’ve always had a tough road, but that’s how the tournament goes,” Annawan coach Jason Burkiewicz said. “They’re hurting right now, there’s nothing I can say to them, but they’ll take a step back in a few weeks and realize how special this was.”
With 13.5 seconds remaining in the game, Annawan’s Celina VanHyfte hit a basket in the paint, coming within one of LeRoy, 54-53. But after LeRoy’s Ashley Walker sunk a pair of free throws with 2.9 seconds on the clock, the Bravettes only opportunity for overtime was a halfcourt shot, which narrowly rattled off the backboard.
“You always have to go and say ‘we’re going to get them’ down to the point when the buzzer stops,” VanHyfe said, teary eyed. “But we just couldn’t finish it tonight.”
AHS senior Jordan Jackson sparked Annawan with a 3-pointer at the 6:42 marker in the fourth quarter to pull the Bravettes ahead, 32-29.
“I thought when we took that 3-point lead, we were going to be able to get it done from there. But [LeRoy] came down and mastered a couple shots of their own, so that’s the way it goes sometimes,” Burkiewicz said. “They’re a tough team.”
VanHyfte equally hit clutch baskets to keep Annawan within striking distance, but LeRoy’s defense proved too much for the 30-2 AHS squad.
“We missed a few shots here and there, but that’s just the way it goes sometimes,” Burkiewicz said. “I think we just sped ourselves up a little more when we had a good look and we just didn’t take our time and square up against the defense.”
Despite being down 26-20 at halftime, Annawan entered the third quarter gates running, as VanHyfte hit an opening basket to come within four of the Panthers, 26-22.
The Bravettes remained close to LeRoy in the third with three crowd-exploding breakaway layups by Jackson to jump ahead of LeRoy at 4:49, 30-29.
But the Panthers regained their lead and narrowly held unto it to conclude the third quarter, 39-38, after two technical free throws from Jackson.
The Annawan and LeRoy offenses were a back and forth battle in the second quarter, as the score see sawed after each possession in the first five minutes.
However, the Panthers pulled away after a 3-pointer from senior Molly Marcum with 2:04 remaining, sparking a 6-2 LeRoy run to close the first half ahead of Annawan, 26-20.
LeRoy turnovers and AHS rebounds helped Annawan tie the game, 8-8, with 2:05 remaining in the first quarter and spark a 4-0 run, spurred by a last-second basket by Jackson to close the first eight minutes ahead, 12-8.
“We just wanted to put our best defenders on them and try to lock them up as best we can,” Burkiewicz said of AHS’ 1-3-1 early defense.
VanHyfe scored 14 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for Annawan, while Jackson tallied 16 points with 14 boards. LeRoy’s Walker led the field with 20 points.
“You can’t say enough about them, especially the senior girls, I’ve coached them since they were freshman, we’ve won over 100 games together, and we’ve just had a blast,” Burkiewicz said. “It’s been a lot of fun, it’s going to be tough to not see them walk through the doors next year.”
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You are beautiful, classy young women representing your school and hometown - You ARE awesome! Be happy and proud and take these wonderful memories with you through the rest of your lives! |
