State Basketball |Montini hangs on to beat QND in 3A semifinal at girls' state basketball tournament

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Montini's Nikki Kerstein keeps the ball away from Notre Dame's Sierra Thomas. Kerstein was the leading scorer in the contest and collected eight boards in the state semifinal Thurday.

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BLOOMINGTON - Montini's pursuit of a fifth IHSA state championship remains alive after a hard-fought 50-41 victory over Quincy Notre Dame in a Class 3A state semifinal Thursday night at CEFCU Arena.

In a matchup featuring seven lead changes, the Lady Broncos found their rhythm late, outlasting a Quincy Notre Dame program that has captured six state titles since 1981. Despite holding the lead for nearly three minutes less than their opponent, Montini delivered in key moments to secure a spot in Saturday's Class 3A title game against St. Ignatius at 6 p.m.

Nikki Kerstein powered Montini's offense with a game-high 27 points, shooting 9-for-16 from the field. The 5-foot-8 senior took over in the second half, scoring 16 of her points after the break while also grabbing eight rebounds. Peyton Farrell added a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, providing a crucial inside presence for the Lady Broncos.

Quincy Notre Dame kept pace for much of the game behind Tristan Pieper's 14 points and nine rebounds. Jenna Durst chipped in 13 points, while Sage Stratton and Ari Buehler each scored seven to round out the Lady Raiders' offensive effort.

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Members of the Montini girls basketball team celebrate after punching their ticket to the Class 3A title game on Saturday at the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals.

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The loss ends Quincy Notre Dame's bid for a seventh state title, forcing the program to wait another year for a chance to add to its championship legacy. Meanwhile, Montini moves one step closer to its first state crown since 2014.

Trailing for extended stretches and utilizing the talents of only five players, Montini found ways to deliver in decisive moments. Kerstein's second-half surge and Farrell's work on the glass proved pivotal as the Lady Broncos maintained composure and capitalized on scoring opportunities when it mattered most despite the starting five playing the full 32-minute game.

With the win, Montini can focus on surpassing another Catholic school powerhouse, St. Ignatius, for the Class 3A championship title and bragging rights for the next year. Quincy Notre Dame will close its season in the third-place game Friday evening at 7:45 p.m. against the Washington's Lady Panthers.

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State Basketball |Peoria Notre Dame 32 minutes away from a repeat state title, Mt. Carmel sets sights on finishing 3rd

NORMAL - Peoria Notre Dame continued its dominance on the biggest stage, rolling past Mt. Carmel 61-35 in the Class 2A state semifinal at the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals on Thursday at CEFCU Arena on the campus of Illinois State University.

The Irish, defending Class 2A champions, extended their winning streak to 15 games and remain undefeated in back-to-back state finals appearances. They advance to face the winner of the other semifinal between Phillips and Nashville in Saturday's championship game.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Peoria Notre Dame's Lexi Baer drives to the paint backdoor during the second half. The junior led all scorers with 18 points to help the Irish advance to Saturday's Class 2A title game.

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Lexi Baer led the charge with 18 points and nine rebounds, powering Notre Dame's offense in key moments. Emy Wardle added 15 points, connecting on three of her four attempts from beyond the arc, while Julia Mingus chipped in 10 points to round out the team's top scorers.

Up by just three points at halftime, the Irish found another gear in the third quarter. Baer scored six points in the frame, while Alli Stickelmaier and Cora Heinz each contributed four points to help Notre Dame stretch its lead to 15. That surge put the game out of reach and sent the Irish back to the title game with a chance to repeat as state champions.

For Mt. Carmel, Maycee Randall delivered a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, while Madison Stevens added eight points and seven boards. The Aces were making their first-ever appearance in the Final Four after a convincing 61-42 victory over Kankakee McNamara at the Unity Supersectional.

Despite keeping pace through the first half, Mt. Carmel struggled to contain Notre Dame's offensive pressure after the break. The Irish's ability to spread the scoring across multiple players and tenacious defense left little room for a comeback.

The Aces are back on Doug Collins Court Friday evening, hoping to take home the division's third place trophy at 6:30 PM on Friday.

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