Sports
Girls Basketball: Minooka Captures First Regional Title Since 1980
Minooka 51 Danville 48. Clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch touches off celebration 31 years in the making.
The Hot Read: Minooka ended a 31-year drought by beating Danville 51-48 to win the Class 3A Danville Regional championship Friday in Danville. It’s the Indians’ first regional championship in girls basketball since 1980.
Patch’s MVP: Sara Placher, a 5-foot-6 senior guard, went 4-of-4 from the free-throw line in the final minute to finish with 12 points.
The Last Time … Minooka won a regional championship, Jimmy Carter was president.
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Minooka’s Leaders: Senior guard/forward Stephanie Furr and junior center Ashley Clemmons scored 13 points each. Senior guard Sara Placher added 12.
Be the Three: Danville hit nine three-pointers to keep Minooka’s defense at bay.
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The Run: Trailing 43-38, Minooka went on a 10-2 run to take command late in the fourth quarter. Clemmons and Placher had four points each during the decisive spurt.
Quotable: Minooka senior guard/forward Stephanie Furr: “This is so exciting. This was one of my goals, to leave here with a regional championship. We haven’t won one in my four years here. It’s been 31 years since we’ve won one. It’s so amazing to think we did what a lot of other teams couldn’t do.”
Records: Minooka improved to 23-4 by winning its 13th game in the last 14 tries. Danville ends the season 12-13.
A Look Ahead: Minooka faces East Moline United in the first Normal Sectional semifinal game at 7:30 p.m. Monday in Normal.
