Waubonsie Valley girls basketball feeling good as the Warriors are in the regional final for the first time since 2012. With wins over Lemont and the 5 seed West Aurora, Waubonsie hopes to upset the four seed Joliet Central Girls Basketball, who defeated Neuqua Valley in the regional semi.
First quarter and silky smooth sophomore Jalysa Stokes hits the pull up jumper as the Steelmen leads 8 to 6.
Waubonsie offense going to work through 6’1 Grace Setter as the junior gets the pass and the basket to go while drawing a foul, game tied 8-8 in the first.
Near the end of the first Shawton Brown passes to Christen Hoskins who hits the three, Joliet up 11-10.
First quarter winding down, Setter finds Halle Williams in the corner for three, the junior hits from beyond the arc to put WV back on top, Warriors pressure the inbounds and Setter gets the steal and hits the jumper off the glass to take a 15-11 lead.
Steelmen battling hard throughout, A’llasha Alexander with 12 points in the game and three of them coming here on the drive for the hoop and the harm. Central up 18-17.
Midway through the 2nd, Ahniya Melton hits a three and we are all tied up at 25 with under two to play in the half.
Jalysa Stokes continues her strong game as she pushes the Steelmen to a five point halftime lead with this three pointer.
Early in the third, Shawton Brown gets a bucket to go and Joliet Central uses a 6-0 run to build its biggest lead of the game 36-25.
Midway through the third, despite and 11 point deficit Waubonsie begins a run, after a Grace Setter basket, Lauren McKnight drives and for the layup and the foul, WV down 7.
Next time down the floor, McKnight runs the handoff to sophomore Mykah Berkompos who doesn’t hesitate, Coach Brett Love fired up on the bench as the Warriors trail 36-32.
Iwiysi Osaghae with the beautiful drive and finish at the rim, six points for the senior as the run continues, we are all tied once again 36 all.
Warriors looking for their first lead of the half, Berkompos misses from way downtown, but everyone decides to stand and watch the rebound bounce, except for Ahniya Melton who says I’ll take that and puts WV 38-36, a 13-0 run!
After the Steelmen retake the lead, McKnight with another handoff to the sharpshooting Mykah Berkompas, her 2nd three puts Waubonsie up 42-41 heading to the 4th.
Early in the 4th, Osaghae gets the steal and drives to the paint, she can’t get the layup to go but Grace Setter runs the floor and gets the put back, the junior leads the team with 15 points on the night. 46-42 Warriors.
Under four to play in the game, Jalysa Stokes continues to hit huge shots, this three pointer cuts the Waubonsie lead down to one 46-45.
Waubonsie down 49-47, Lauren McKnight tries to get a runner to go, she gets her own rebound and gets it to go, the basket and the free throw puts the Warriors up 50-49 with under a minute to play!
30 seconds left, and again it’s Stokes hitting the tough shot in traffic off the glass, Steelmen up 51-50, Stokes leads all scorers with 23.
8 seconds to go in the game, Waubonsie on the inbound, McKnight tosses to Halle Williams who makes the perfect pass to Grace Setter underneath, but the layup is a hair too strong as it rattles off the front rim, Joliet Central gets the rebound as the clock expires. A stunning finish as the Steelmen escape with the regional plaque. A great season for Waubonsie comes to a close in heartbreaking fashion.
