Boylan 65, Huntley 42: Brea Edwards scored the points Monday, but Kierra Valentine was the one who knocked out Huntley.
Valentine had five steals — which led to five layups — in a four-minute spurt in the second quarter of Boylan’s 65-42 rout of Huntley in the semifinals of the Class 4A Algonquin Jacobs girls basketball sectional.
“She anticipated really well,” Huntley guard Megan Martinez said. “I don’t know if she runs track or what, but I would see her over here, and all of a sudden she’s down there with the ball and going in for a layup.”
Valentine finished with eight of Boylan’s 19 steals, including six in a 28-4 run that turned a one-point lead into a 40-15 lead early in the third quarter.
“With Kierra getting steals, we were getting fastbreaks all the time,” Edwards (23 points, eight rebounds and four steals) said. “Whenever she gets the ball, you don’t even see her feet, because they are moving so fast.”
Valentine’s eight steals turned into seven layups and two free throws.
“We love trapping and getting the steals,” guard Deborah Hilby (eight points) said. “That’s what motivates us the most and gets the team going.”
Boylan (30-1) led only 12-11 after one quarter, as Huntley (18-12) shot four airballs but made five of its other six shots. “It was very frustrating,” Hilby said.
Until Valentine (eight points) started stepping into the Red Raiders’ passing lanes. Or leaping high to snare what looked like a safe pass. “She can jump, jump, jump,” forward Devin Mack (eight points, six rebounds and four assists) said.
And, yes, Valentine is a sprinter in track. “I was on the end on the trap. That’s my favorite spot,” Valentine said.
“I came out with a lot of intensity. I don’t want this to end. We came too far. We’re trying to make history here.”
The Titans became the third NIC-10 program to win 30 games in a season, joining Belvidere (1996) and Freeport (1994, 1995, 2008).
“It’s really cool; 30 wins proves we have what it takes to get to state,” Hilby said.
The No. 8-ranked Titans are in the final 16 and will head into Thursday’s sectional final against Crystal Lake South (26-4) having played only three games all year decided by less than 10 points, none since December.
“We don’t want any,” Edwards said. “It’s good that we’re beating teams by 20-plus points. We hope to do it the next game, too.”
- Matt Trowbridge, rrstar.com
