Girls Basketball: Lincoln-Way East topples Homewood-Flossmoor

Updated: February 21, 2012 10:40PM

Junior Meaghan McMahon gave Lincoln-Way East momentum Tuesday, banking in a buzzer-beating 35-footer to give the Griffins a five point lead over Homewood-Flossmoor at halftime.

Then East’s seniors finished the job.

Taylor Johnson and Caitlin McMahon combined for 22 second-half points as the No. 4 Griffins pulled away late for a 54-41 win in a Sandburg Sectional semifinal.

“Being a captain and a senior, I definitely wanted to step up and be a leader,” Johnson said. “Meaghan’s shot really helped our excitement level go up even more. That was definitely a game-changer.”

Johnson (19 points), Caitlin McMahon (14 points, 12 rebounds) and Meaghan McMahon (11 points, 7 rebounds) led the Griffins (26-4), who took the rubber match after splitting regular-season contests with H-F and will meet Marist in Thursday’s sectional championship.

Danielle Woolfolk and Amena Brent scored 10 points each to pace No. 3 H-F (23-7), which was without leading scorer Charnell Reed due to a knee injury.

Caitlin McMahon had five points and Johnson four in the third as the Griffins took a 35-28 lead into the fourth.

Johnson then delivered a series of knockout punches, hitting a pair of jumpers to up the lead to double digits and scoring on two driving layups to help seal the win.

The Griffins’ zone defense — in part used to protect Johnson, who picked up her third foul late in the first half — frustrated H-F, which was 6-of-27 from the field in the second half.

“The zone was working, so we decided to stay with what we were doing,” East coach Jim Martin said. “I’m ecstatic. It seemed like the basketball gods were with us tonight, with Meaghan’s shot going in.”

Lauren Parker (6 rebounds) and Sydni Johnson added seven points each for H-F.

“Our kids played as hard as they could,” H-F coach Dana Noble said. “We had some shots that could have turned momentum for us, they just weren’t falling tonight.”

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