Girls Basketball: Lincoln-Way East tops Lincoln-Way North for regional title

Updated: February 16, 2012 9:44PM

Lincoln-Way East coach Jim Martin couldn’t have designed a better start to his team’s 61-36 victory Thursday night over Lincoln-Way North in the championship of the Class 4A Lincoln-Way Central Regional.

“We came out with a lot of energy and very focused,” said Martin, whose team shot 68 percent in the first half on the way to its fifth consecutive regional crown. “When you knock down the shots like we did, you can look very good.”

The Griffins (25-4), who advanced to Tuesday’s Sandburg Sectional semifinal opposite Homewood-Flossmoor, made 10 of 13 shots in the first period, scored the first 10 points and forced five turnovers before North took a shot.

“We knew what to expect but they just shot lights-out,” North coach Jim Nair said. “It didn’t matter what defense we were in, they made their shots.”

East established the inside behind Caitlin McMahon, who scored all of her 10 first-period points underneath the basket. The Griffins also had a pair of three-point baskets while outscoring North 23-10 in the first.

The Phoenix (23-6) gave up just 14 points in a semifinal win, but the Griffins had that many after 4:32 and led 14-2.

“Coach is always saying momentum at the start will push us for the rest of the game,” East point guard Taylor Johnson said. “We definitely wanted to keep the regional streak going.”

McMahon had a game-high 19 points and nine rebounds. Amy Jacobsen added 15 points. Johnson had 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists and five steals.

“She’s an all-around player,” Martin said of Johnson. “She got banged up tonight. It was physical and there were some collisions. But she’s a five-tool player ... she just keeps going.”

Taylor Boardman led North with 12 points, 10 in the first half.

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