Sectional roundup: Havana moves to supers with win over Brown County
ABINGDON — Taryn Wickman scored 10 points in the second half to lead Havana past Mount Sterling Brown County 40-34 to win the Class 1A Abingdon-Avon Sectional girls basketball championship on Thursday.
It is the fifth sectional title in school history and the first since 2015.
Havana (32-4) will face Okawville (31-4) at 7 p.m. Monday in the 1A Mount Sterling Brown County Supersectional for a spot in the state finals. Okawville was ranked No. 2 in the final Associated Press Class 1A statewide poll. But state rankings don't seem to matter for the ninth-ranked Ducks: Brown County was ranked third in the final AP poll.
Wickman, a senior, finished with a game-high 14 points. Sophomore Josie Hughes added 10 points while Kaydi Miller, a freshman, had nine. Miller, Hughes and senior Jennifer Bonnett combined for 15 second-half points as No. 3-seed Havana outscored No. 2 Brown County 25-18.
"Right now we’re still kind of excited for our success we’ve had," Havana coach Michelle Brady said. "I’ve heard from everybody (who says) take time to enjoy what you’re doing. We’re trying to take things one day at a time."
It's been an improbable run of sorts for the Ducks. Havana has been without starter Kaity Robison and sixth man Angel Cleer, both to torn ACLs, this entire postseason. Robison was injured against Carthage Illini West on Feb. 2 and tried to come back for senior night against Cuba North Fulton on Feb. 9. After that, she was ruled out for the season with the torn ACL. Cleer tore her ACL on Feb. 4 against Jacksonville Routt.
"I tell the girls all the time, don’t put limits on what you can do," Brady said.
Without the two of them, Havana lost 64-42 to Tremont on Feb. 6. That was the Ducks' crossroad.
"We regrouped that night in the locker room and we talked about moving forward," Brady said. "The girls have been doing that and they’ve been doing that for each other. I’m really proud of them."
Havana's defense was on full display Thursday. Brown County's only player to reach double figures was Klare Flynn, who finished with 10 points while Gracie Hedden netted nine. Even before the current rash of injuries, a 61-56 loss at Petersburg PORTA on Jan. 7 allowed Brady to get her team to double down on the defensive end.
"We had three or four girls in double figures and we lost," Brady said. "I told the girls ... we’re always going to find ways to score so we’ve got to make sure we’re holding teams to around 35 points if we can do that."
Once again, Havana prepares as the underdog — injuries notwithstanding. But as the only one of three state-ranked teams in the Brown County — Elmwood was No. 10 in the final AP poll along with Havana and Brown County — Brady said the Ducks will treat Monday's supersectional just like the other four postseason games.
"I've told them it's OK for us to be the underdogs," Brady said. "It's worked out for us. It's OK if people want to underestimate us. If we keep winning, that's awesome but if not, hopefully we did our best and the better team won."
Hilltoppers fall in sectional final
Grace Davis, Alyson Murphy and Alexis Wade combined for 36 points but it wasn't enough for Mount Pulaski in a 63-48 loss to Champaign St. Thomas More in the Class 1A Lexington Sectional on Thursday.
Murphy, a freshman, was 6-for-6 at the free-throw line and finished with 12 points. Wade, a senior, and Davis, a junior, also had 12 points apiece.
The Hilltoppers (26-9) were seeking their first sectional title since 2013 but won back-to-back regionals for the first time in school history.
Emma Devocelle led the Sabers (27-6) with 24 points while Maddy Swisher added 14.
St. Thomas More will face Serena in the 1A Pontiac Supersectional on Monday at 7 p.m.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Havana upset the state's No. 3 team to advance to supersectionals
