How sweet it is as Pontiac reaches sectional final with record-tying victory
- Erich Murphy
- Feb 25
- 3 min read
By Erich Murphy
Bingo Magic Sports
There will be some history made Thursday should Pontiac win its game with Manteno. The Indians will establish a new program record for wins in a single season as well as winning the first sectional title in more than 45 years.
Pontiac reached this point when other rolled past Bishop McNamara 46-32 Tuesday in the first semifinal game of the Class 2A Pontiac Sectional. The Tribe will face Manteno, who topped St. Joseph-Ogden 44-23 in the second semifinal game.
“We wanted revenge from that last game we lost in overtime,” PTHS senior Morgan Dewald said after the Tribe’s win. “We came out with energy and made a few buckets right away to get us some momentum.”
Pontiac lost 55-52 in overtime to the Irish on Dec. 2 and used that setback as an incentive to their meeting in the sectional. That may have helped the Indians eliminate any nerves like they had last week in the regional final.
“We weren’t as scared,” PTHS head coach Brad Harmon said of Tuesday’s game. “Everybody had talked about how long it had been since we won a regional, it was in their head and they wanted it so bad. They just got in their own way (against Monticello).”
The last time Pontiac had won a regional girls’ basketball title was a 3A crown in 2008, the first year of the four-class system.
Trinity Miller scored on a follow for the game’s first points. Bailee Branscum buried a 3-pointer and Miller converted a steal moments later for a 7-0 lead with 5:50 to go in the first quarter.
Another trey from Branscum, a Dewald basket and two Celi Serna free throws gave the Indians a 14-2 edge by the end of the first period.
“We ran stuff well in the first half, the defense was real good in the first half,” Harmon said.
Bishop Mac scored twice in the first two minutes of the second quarter, cutting the margin to 14-6, but that was as close as the Irish could get. Pontiac led 21-8 at the half and 30-19 by the start of the fourth period.
“Girls basketball here has not been a big thing for awhile,” Harmon said. “It was a great crowd, a loud crowd. The kids were having fun, the crowd was having fun.”
The fans, especially the students, have been quite supportive. Members of the boys team and cheerleading squad has been backing the Indians.
“I think the fans showed how much support they have for us, it really helps a lot,” Dewald said. “The students show we work together, we support each other. We go to the boys games, they come to our games.”
And with good reason, there is some history being made. Tuesday’s win pushed the Tribe’s record to 22-11. This win total matches a program-best that was first reached in 1989-90 when PTHS went 22-4 and won a regional title. That team was coached by Becky Rasmussen.
A win Thursday means something even bigger and creating an achievement that hasn’t been attained in 47 years. The last time Pontiac won a sectional title was 1978-79 when the Judy Johnson-coached Tribe went 15-5 with a regional and sectional title in the single-class system.
“We’re excited we’re coming to play and want to get that sectional championship,” Dewald said.
Leading the way against Bishop McNamara was Miller with a game-high 20 points. Branscum added 8 points while Serna and Grace Lanning each netted 6 points. Jo Duck checked in with 4 points and Dewald had 2 points.
A Pontiac win Thursday will send the Indians to the Wilmington Supersectional against the winner of the Mendota Sectional On Monday, March 2. That title game pits top-seeds Byron and Port Byron (Riverdale).
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