Sophomore center Katie Schumacher, No. 23 on your scorecard, and senior guard-forward Anne McDonald, No. 23 next to her heart, combined for 32 points Monday night in Dolton. Thirty-two points that broke St. Ignatius’ heart one more time.
Thirty-two points that proved a theory Ignatius coach Tom McKenna has had since his No. 5 Wolfpack (26-3) defeated McAuley by nine points back in mid-December.
“People asked me all year who the toughest team I thought we had played was,” said McKenna, after McAuley had prevailed 59-48 in Monday’s Thornridge Class AA sectional semifinal, “and I said Mother McAuley. They are a very well-coached, very fundamentally sound basketball team, and once you’re behind them, very difficult to catch.”
Last year the Macs beat Ignatius in the sectional final on their way to fourth in the state. Monday they showed why the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference trophy they won two weeks ago may look like a knickknack before they’re through.
McAuley will play Thornridge (22-7) in Thursday’s sectional finale. The Macs beat the Falcons by 33 points in late January. Thornridge knocked off Bloom 41-39 in Monday’s second semifinal on Latonia Cantrell’s three-point play with 5.2 seconds remaining. Cantrell, who finished with 11 points, put up a layup in traffic, was fouled by Kameelah Morgan, and sank the free throw. Bloom finished at 25-2.
McKenna wasn’t the only person to notice that the No. 6 Mighty Macs (24-5) are looking mightier lately.
“We’re a lot tougher team than we were before Christmas,” said McAuley coach Barb Edwards. “We’ve played a tough schedule and we know what to do at the end of a game.”
Monday night, in a sloppy, foul-filled contest, the Macs fought from in front, thanks to Schumacher’s 17 points and 15 from McDonald. With McDonald and Schumacher scoring six each in the first quarter and McAuley forcing six turnovers, the Macs raced to an 18-11 lead after eight minutes against a tentative Wolfpack.
“Not getting out of the box strong put a lot of pressure on us,” McKenna said.
Foul troubles also put a lot of pressure on Ignatius.
The Wolfpack got within 20-15 in the second quarter, but when sophomore center Maureen McManaman picked up her third personal foul and took a seat on the bench, comeback No. 1 was foiled. By halftime it was 30-19 Macs.
“I just had a good feeling about this game,” said McDonald, who wears a No. 23 practice shirt under her No. 10 uniform. “Their centers can really hurt you inside. We boxed out a lot better this time and just basically played with more intensity. The way we’re playing now, we’re not going to let anyone beat us.”
Ignatius got within 30-25 early in the third quarter and within 41-37 early in the fourth quarter, but each time the Macs answered. McManaman finished with 14 points before fouling out and O’Connor, who had four personals, finished with 11. There were 44 fouls whistled in the contest.
