Pontiac’s historic run comes to an end with supersectional loss to No. 2 Byron

By Erich Murphy

Bingo Magic Sports

WILMINGTON — Although Pontiac suffered a 66-40 loss to Byron at the Class 2A Wilmington Supersectional on Monday, the Indians will still have their girls’ basketball dream season as a lasting memory.

Jo Duck puts up a shot for Pontiac in supersectional play Monday at Wilmington. Duck scored a team-high 12 points for the Indians. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

“In June, our goal was top two or maybe three in conference,” Pontiac head coach Brad Harmon said. “We tied for first. We were hoping to win a regional, we won a sectional.”

The Indians won their first Illini Prairie Conference championship, claimed the first regional title since 2008, and won the sectional for the first time since 1979.

Pontiac also established a new standard in wins in a season after posting a 23-12 campaign.

Trinity Miller puts up a shot for Pontiac. Miller had 11 points but the Indians were unable to get past second-ranked Byron at the Class 2A Wilmington Supersectional on Monday. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

The success of our season was, well, Trinity (Miller) stands out,” Harmon said. “Any different game, we had six people scoring double digits. Over half our games we had three scoring double digits, and it was six different people. That was the key to our season, we shared the ball.”

Morgan Dewald of Pontiac dribbles out of trouble after securing the ball in the defensive end in Class 2A supersectional play Monday. PTHS lost its bid for the final four with 66-40 defeat at the hands of second-ranked Byron. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

Miller was joined by Morgan Dewald and Grace Lanning as senior starters for most of the season. Jo Duck started in the post depending on the situation, such as against Byron on Monday.

Pontiac’s Grace Lanning reaches to secure the ball in Monday’s Class 2A supersectional game at Wilmington. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

Senior leadership was key as the Tribe tried to hang with the second-ranked Tigers. Pontiac’s problem was lack of experience at this level. Byron’s seniors lost in the sectional final last year and placed second at state as freshmen in 2023. Two of the seniors were key contributors on that team, including Macy Groharing, who was the team’s second-leading scorer, and Malia Morton, who was fourth in scoring and third in rebounding.

Groharing was a thorn in Pontiac’s side on Monday. She helped create turnovers on defense and led the Tigers in scoring with 35 points. Morton added 16 points.

More than anything, Byron’s defense was the difference.

“They had three kids on top that are really tough, so our advantage was inside,” Harmon said. “With their ball pressure, we couldn’t get the ball inside. When we were able to get it underneath, we got stuff.”

After trailing 15-11 at the end of the first quarter, Pontiac was able to strike in the first minute of the second period to take a 16-15 lead. Dewald converted a steal and Miller buried a 3-pointer that helped force a Byron timeout.

Pontiac’s Bailee Branscum sets up for a 3-point shot during the Class 2A Wilmington Supersectional Monday. Branscum scored 9 points in the Indians’ 66-40 loss to second-ranked Byron. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

The Tigers then closed out the half with a 16-1 run to take control. Byron led 32-17 at the half and 49-30 after three periods.

Duck was able to make things happen on the inside when she could, finishing with 12 points in leading the Pontiac offense. Also key inside were Dewald, who finished with 4 points, and Lanning, who had 2 points.

Miller threw in 11 points, with a chunk coming off Byron turnovers. Sophomore Bailee Branscum was the outside threat with a trio of treys to finish with 9 points. Celi Serna added 2 points.

Branscum and Serna will be back to lead the Indians next season.

Harmon is optimistic about next season. He said he is looking forward to some familiar faces returning, as well as newcomers. He got a glance of what might be in the regional tournament when he was able to put what may be next year’s starting five on the floor at the same time.

Pontiac’s Celi Serna looks to take a shot inside against Byron. Serna had 2 points in the Tribe’s 66-40 loss to the Tigers in Class 2A supersectional play at Wilmington. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

“I think we’ll surprise people,” Harmon said of next season. “When you have two guards like Celi and Bailee, the others don’t have to do everything.”

Harmon also was happy to see the support of the grade schoolers  in the stands.

“It was fun seeing junior high kids here. You didn’t see that in girls’ basketball at Pontiac in the past,” Harmon said. “(This year’s team) may have changed basketball in that way, which would be awesome.”

Byron (32-2) will face Elgin (St. Edward) in Thursday’s second 2A semifinal game. The first game will pit third-ranked Breese (Central) against No. 4 Pleasant Plains.

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