2012 IL Girls 4A Third Place Game: Bartlett 61, Loyola 59 OT

Posted on March 4, 2012. Filed under: Basketball | Tags: Amateur Sports, Amateur Sports Magazine, Amateur Sports News Network, AmateurSports365, ASNN, ASNN365, Class 4A, Girls Basketball, IHSA, Illinois State Basketball, Illinois State Basketball Third Place |

2012 Girls Class 4A Basketball Third Place Game

March 3, 2012

For Bartlett, fans (parents) called this there championship game, considering they faced the top ranked Young team, who easily defeated them in the semifinal game. In this contest, it took overtime to decide but in the end, the Hawks’ claimed third place in the Class 4A finals defeating Loyola 61-59.

The Hawks’ overcame a Loyola’s physical play and a three-point deficit with 19 seconds left in regulation.

“The strength in our team is how we play together,” Bartlett coach Denise Sarna said. “Our strength is all of us playing together, and tonight was another example.”

Palmer had 14 points, 16 rebounds and four steals and sparked the Hawks (32-2) in overtime with seven points. She iced the game with two free throws with one second left in overtime after getting fouled by Michelle Ricolcol (17 points).

“I tried rebounding hard; it was my last game,” Palmer said. “Why not go out with a bang?”

Loyola (26-9) led by six points twice in the third but couldn’t pull away. The Ramblers took 50-47 lead after a free throw by Ricolcol with 19 seconds left, but Conniff (21 points, 6 rebounds) drilled one of her four 3-pointers with 13 seconds left.

Loyola junior Anna Schueler’s 3-pointer at the end of regulation bounced out to send the game into overtime.

“They got an open 3; give credit to (Conniff) for knocking that down,” Loyola coach Jeremy Schoenecker said. “This has been an amazing three-and-a-half weeks. It’s been a dream season.”

In closing, senior point guard Baker was very sick all weekend and her illness spreaded throughout the locker room of the Hawks including Kristin Conniff (21 points, 6 boards) and Lisa Palmer (14 points), who were still coughing during the postgame press conference.

“I’ve been sick since last weekend,” Baker said.