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The Cook County High School girls’ basketball team traveled to play the South Ridge Panthers on Friday, March 19, to see which team would advance from the 7A Girls Basketball Quarterfinals into the semifinals.
Unfortunately for the Vikings, South Ridge’s star guard hit five thee point baskets in a row during the second half and by all accounts, it looked like the Panthers shot a higher percentage from three-point land then they did from underneath the basket in the second period of play.
The game was close throughout the first half of play, with the Vikings trailing by four points, 16-12 late in that period. The Panthers, however, went on a small run and took a 24-16 lead into the break.
Coming out of the halftime, the Panthers scored a quick basket in the paint and the Vikings, behind Ariana Poyirier, traded baskets, coming within eight points at 32-24. However, that’s when Adella Olesiak heated up, and the Vikings had no answer for the hot shooting guard.
As the three points fell like cold rain, the Vikings were stymied, making one free throw and one lay-up while the Panthers rattled off another eight points to go up 40-27.
Over the next minute or two, Ariana made two nice drives to the basket, once getting fouled and making both of her free throws. On the next play, she stole the ball and wove her way past a couple of defenders for another lay-up.
With about six minutes to play, senior center Paisley Smith, who had been relatively quiet on offense, took a pass from Makenzie Fairbanks and made two points underneath. Then Paisley rebound a missed shot and put the ball in the basket. On the following play, she went up for a shot and was fouled, making both free throws. That was as close as the Vikings would get, trailing 55-42. Ariana hit a three and with 1:03 on the clock, Ariana made one of her patented steals and drove the length of the floor for a lay-up to make the final score 68-48. With 21.4 seconds on the clock, Viking Head Coach Kelly Hawsen pulled Adriana and Paisley and let them get well-deserved applause from the audience.
Ariana led the Vikings as she did all season, scoring 23 points. She had a lot of steals and who knows how many rebounds. Overall, her play was tremendous, and she will be greatly missed.
Paisley Smith finished with 13 points and played a strong game underneath for her team. Like Ariana, Paisley’s strong all-around play and leadership on the court will be missed next year.
Rhonnie Poyirier played a strong game on defense, rebounded well and scored 13 points. Katie Peck was the only other Viking to score, and Katie had three points.
MaKenzie Fairbanks played exceptionality well as did Katie Peck, Anna Hay and Kamryn Johnson. With Ariana and Paisley graduating, the Vikings will have some big shoes to fill but they will also have a great group to work with for the next season.
As for the Panthers, they upped their record to 18-3 while the Vikings ended their season at 7-6.
“I am proud of the girls for their effort,” said Coach Kelly Hawsen. “They are a great group of athletes and a joy to coach. It’s always tough to see those seniors have their last game, but man did they work hard on every possession.”
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