Another goal achieved as Pontiac claims first girls’ basketball regional title in 18 years

By Erich Murphy

Bingo Magic Sports

FAIRBURY — Pontiac didn’t make it easy on itself. Poor shooting and turnovers made things tough. But the Indians were able to overcome those problems to capture their first regional title in girls’ basketball in 18 years with a 38-35 win over Monticello Friday night.

Trinity Miller takes a shot in the paint area Friday against Monticello. Miller scored 19 points to lead the Indians to their first regional title since 2008. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

Pontiac last won a regional title in 2008 when it defeated Morris to win the Class 3A Streator Regional.

“This was a big goal of ours, trying to get the championship and play the sectional at home,” senior Trinity Miller said.

Like all teams, the Indians had their goals for this season. The ultimate is winning state, but the smaller goals are just as important. This is the second goal in the past few weeks accomplished by the Tribe. It won the Illini Prairie Conference, and now a regional title.

“It’s one of the biggest accomplishments,” Grace Lanning, another senior for the Indians, said. “We just all wanted it and as a senior, it feels great.”

Grace Lanning of Pontiac tries to get around Monticello defender Lexi Leatherwood. Lanning scored 9 points in the Tribe’s 38-35 win. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

Winning the regional didn’t come easy on this night. Monticello jumped out to a 7-0 lead. Each of those points came off a PTHS turnover.

Miller got the Tribe on the board with 2:48 to go in the opening period with a pair of free throws. She scored again 90 seconds later with the team’s first field goal when she connected in the paint.

It wasn’t until the second quarter when the Indians started finding a groove.

“At first, we weren’t playing like us,” Miller said. “After the first quarter, we started playing like us again. We passed the ball around, got some shots up and got to the boards as best as we could.”

Pontiac’s Jo Duck, left, and Morgan Dewald, right, battle with a Monticello player for a rebound in Friday’s regional final at Fairbury. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

The Sages held their biggest lead early in the second quarter. Their 10-6 lead at the start of the period grew to 14-6 on a free throw and 3-pointer.

Pontiac’s response came quickly. Lanning made a free throw, Bailee Branscum scored on a fast break and Miller made two baskets to draw the Tribe to within one, at 14-13, with 4:18 to go in the first half.

“We beat them in the season, but we can’t overlook teams just because we beat them (before),” Lanning said.

Each side made one free throw over the final four-plus minutes of the half, leaving Monticello with a 15-14 advantage at the break.

Pontiac’s Morgan Dewald charges up the floor after a Monticello turnover.  (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

Pontiac’s problems were shooting and turning the ball over. The turnover thing kind of corrected itself, but the shooting was an issue all game despite some key makes in the second half.

One of those important baskets came from Branscum when she drilled a 3-pointer to tie the game at 17-17 in the first minute of the second half. Miller put PTHS up for the first time when she scored on an inbound pass a minute later.

Miller’s basket with 3:29 to go in the third period gave Pontiac a 24-23 lead. The Indians did not trail the rest of the way.

There were challenges down the stretch, mainly in the final 45 seconds of the game. Miller hit a free throw with 44.4 seconds remaining to make it a three-point difference. PTHS then had to withstand Monticello’s last-chance efforts.

Celi Serna came up big at the end with a couple of important defensive plays that thwarted a pair of Monticello efforts. First, she recorded a steal with about 10 seconds to go. Then, Serna’s pressure moments later didn’t give the Sages a final shot at the tie.

“I was just thinking how can I bring us to victory,” Serna said on her effort down the stretch. “I would say I do the dirty work.”

Miller finished with 19 points while Lanning added 9 and Branscum scored 8 points. Jo Duck netted 2 points.

Lexi Leatherwood led Monticello (17-15) with 13 points.

Pontiac garnered its first girls’ basketball regional title since 2008 with a 38-35 win over Monticello at the Class 2A Prairie Central Regional Friday. The Indians are, in front from left, Harper Francis, Kenzie Fetgatter, Bailee Branscum, Celi Serna, Trinity Miller and Syndel Hicks. In back are Brinlee Dearth, Morgan Dewald, Jo Duck, Grace Lanning, Anna Gall and Casey Taylor. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

Pontiac (21-11) will be at home on Tuesday as the Indians host a sectional meet. The Tribe will face Bishop McNamara in the first semifinal game of the night. Tipoff is at 6 p.m. The second game will pit Manteno against St. Joseph-Ogden. The winners will tangle on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.

“I think we earned it,” Lanning said of winning the regional. “I’m happy.”

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