HINCKLEY – After winning the ninth regional in Amboy girls basketball history, the Lady Clippers prepared to compete in the IHSA Class 1A Hinckley-Big Rock Sectional.
The Lady Clippers, seeded second, defeated Morgan Park Academy 54-26 in the semifinals on Tuesday, Feb. 25, before losing 54-44 to Elgin St. Edward on Thursday, Feb. 26.
According to IHSA.org, Amboy has participated in three regional championships, and Lady Clippers coach Mike McCracken believes this is the program’s fourth or fifth sectional final. Note that the site may be wrong, as it identifies Amboy as the sectional winner in the 2018-19 season, although the bracket shows they lost in a regional semifinal.
Amboy completed the season 26-8, having won the Northwest Upstate Illinois Conference South Division, the regional championship, and the sectional playoffs.
Class 1A Hinckley-Big Rock
Sectional Semifinal
Amboy 54, Morgan Park 26
Senior Emily Sachs was the star of the show, recording a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds, as well as an assist and a block.
“This was just a crazy game to be in,” Sachs explained. “We feel pleased about winning the semifinals, and we know we deserved to be here. We have been working hard all season.
“My coaches, Mike McCracken, Shauna Dinges, and Elizabeth Ortgiesen, enjoy working with me in the position during practices. They work with me on rebounding and dropping my foot into the post. I used to never do it, but now my drop step is my go-to move.
Amboy led throughout, outscoring Morgan Park 14-2 in the first, 11-8 in the second, 12-8 in the third, and 17-8 in the fourth quarter.
Junior Bella Yanos recorded a double-double with 13 rebounds and 10 points, while senior Addison Pertell had nine, sophomore Alexa McKendry and junior Jillian Anderson had five each, and senior Kenley Wilson and junior Ellie McLaughlin had two.
“We did an excellent job of getting Emily the ball against Morgan Park.” “She had a double-double, and I’m very happy for her,” McCracken said. “She doesn’t always satisfy people’s expectations since she is so huge. She did in this game. When you win by 18 points and Tyrah Vaessen does not score, Emily needs to have a strong game.
“Bella Yanos could have produced more baskets. She is not as powerful as Emily, and it was difficult for her at times. “But everyone contributed to the victory.”
Class 1A Hinckley-Big Rock
Sectional Championship
St. Edward 54, Amboy 44
The Lady Clippers were defeated 55-27 the last time they faced St. Edward in the season’s third game.
With the addition of Pertell, who was injured in the previous meeting, Amboy hoped to win or perform better.
Victory was not achieved, but the game was close, difficult, and aggressive throughout, which Amboy could not say about the first match.
“I told the girls in the locker room, ‘They just made a lot of big shots.’ “We fought the entire way,” McCracken added. “Our seven-point lead faded quickly. We were harmed by the high-low in the second quarter. We tidied it up a little, but they have a lot of talented shooters.
“The press bothered us a lot the last time we played them, but not so much in the sectional final. St. Edward understood they were playing a game. We had them for a while, but we couldn’t keep up.”
St. Edward led for barely one minute in the first quarter and went back and forth with Amboy for more than half of the second quarter before pulling away.
Amboy led 20-13 at 5:33 of the second quarter.
Vaessen, McKendry, and Yanos all finished with nine points, while Vaessen had ten boards and five steals, and Sachs had nine.
