The embarrassing 23-point loss to New Trier last season was still fresh in Danielle Campbell’s mind Monday.
“We didn’t want the same thing that happened last year to happen this year,” Young’s 6-foot-4-inch senior said.
It didn’t. No. 1 Young remained unbeaten in the state to reach the Class AA quarterfinals with a 51-47 victory over New Trier at Loyola University’s Gentile Center.
The victory in this supersectional was an emotional one for the Dolphins (26-1), whose only previous trip to the Elite Eight was in 1995. They’ll face Warren at 1:45 p.m. Friday at Redbird Arena. “When we came here as freshmen, that was our goal–getting Downstate,” senior Erin Dickerson said.
Statistics were telling in a game not decided until the final minute. Young’s 56-30 rebounding edge was too much for New Trier (29-5) to overcome. The Dolphins also had 27 second-chance points.
Dickerson, Campbell and Amanda Thompson played major roles for Young. Campbell had 17 points and 15 rebounds, and Thompson had 14 points, 15 rebounds and seven steals despite sitting out the second quarter with foul trouble.
Trailing 36-26 with three minutes left in the third quarter, New Trier mounted a comeback capped by Deirdre Naughton’s three-pointer with 2:37 left. Her game-high 22nd point gave the Trevians a 45-44 lead.
Campbell answered for Young. But more important, Thompson came up with what may have been the play of the game. She stole the inbounds pass to give the Dolphins, who led 46-45, possession.
Dickerson’s free throws put Young ahead 48-45. Amy Jaeschke (15 points, nine rebounds) cut the Trevians’ deficit to 48-47 with 32 seconds left. A free throw by Dickerson and two more by Thompson with 11.6 seconds left sealed the win.
