The eighth-seeded Boiler Girls were well-aware of the buzzsaw they’d be facing Monday night against No. 1 in Class 2A and top-seeded Peoria (Notre Dame).
However, I’m not sure anything can prepare a team for the kind of 89-26 lopsided loss Kewanee (11-17) had to endure, but hopefully they’re taking it all in stride.
That score is actually indicative of the kind of scores PND (27-4) has put up all season and oftentimes against schools larger than Kewanee High School.
Against Centennial (92-15), Urbana (86-14), Normal West (81-23), St. Bede (85-20), East Peoria (85-25). You get the picture.
Kewanee Coach Nick Christakos had the right approach to the game, though. He told his team to control the things they can control and enjoy the atmosphere that comes with playing a powerhouse like PND.
It was evident within the first few minutes of the game how the Lady Irish have accomplished having a multitude of lopsided wins throughout the season.
They play a suffocating full court pressure defense that forces many a turnover. They picked Kewanee’s pockets at least nine times in the first quarter, alone. Most of the steals resulted in layups and kick out 3-pointers.
Julia Mingus, Kaitlin Cassidy and Mya Wardle were the main culprits. Cassidy scored 18 first quarter points, Mingus had eight and Wardle scored seven.
The Lady Irish put up 41 first quarter points (41-8), which is often the final total for many teams. They let up a little bit in the second frame and “only” scored 28 for a halftime lead of 69-13.
PND made nine 3-pointers in the first half and a total of 11 for the game.
Senior guard Hannah Tiska made two 3-pointers in the first half for the Boiler Girls.
The Irish let their foot off the gas in the second half. They removed the press and took the opportunity to rest their starters. They outscored the Boiler Girls 20-13 in the second half.
Kewanee junior Mya Dearing scored nine second half points and 12 for the game.
Cassidy led all scorers with 20 points, Mingus followed with 19, Lexi Baer had 13 and Mya Wardle chipped in with 10 points.
Christakos was proud of the way his team played in the second half in spite of the mountain they were facing.
“You can’t control your matchups, but you can control your attitude, said Christakos. “I think they should be really proud of the way they played in the second half and, in general, with the game and how our attitude was during it,” he added.
“They listened to the coaching and supported each other.” Christakos also viewed it as an opportunity for his team to be inspired and work harder in the off-season.
He also praised his two seniors, Avery Yepsen and Hannah Tiska, who stayed committed to the program for four years. “It’s not always easy,” he said. “They deserve a lot of credit.”
