Grit and Determination Propel Lady Blazers

Grit and heart…. That's what is separating this year's John Wood Women's Basketball team over last years team. Coach Lauren Bogle has got this year's squad believing that it can, and it will make that Region 24 Tournament Championship game, and they got one step closer by beating #5 seed Illinois Central College yesterday in the quarterfinal game of this year's Region 24 Tournament.

The Lady Blazers started out on a cold stretch with ICC scoring the first six out of eight points of the game. It wasn't until back-to-back layups by Jada Dupree that the Blazers started to find some life. "We started out slow, but that is something that this group doesn't let get them down", said Head Coach Lauren Bogle.

The Blazers would continue to find their groove in the second quarter, thanks to a quick three pointer from the left side, courtesy of freshman Grace Deters. That three pointer brought the score to 14-12 in favor of ICC, but the Blazers wouldn't be done just yet. Dupree would strike again with 7 minutes left in the quarter off a fast break layup. It would then be Deters striking again with a three pointer to give the Lady Blazers more life with just four minutes left in the half. "I'm proud of the way our team played in the first half and didn't give in to the zone pressure from ICC". It is that grit and determination that these ladies continue to show day after day". John Wood would continue to chip away and eventually take a 27-23 score in favor of ICC into the halftime break.

It would be a completely different second half out of the break for John Wood, as they would show why they are the best second half team in all the conference. Quick layups from Amber Durst and Katey Flynn allowed the Blazers to take the lead with a 32-29 score in the third quarter. However, ICC would fight back until an and one old fashioned four-point play from Katey Flynn allowed the Lady Blazers to take the lead by the score of 43-42 with a minute left in the third quarter.

The fourth quarter would be the highlight of the game for the Lady Blazers as freshman Blair Eftink would sink back-back-back threes from the corner to give the Lady Blazers that much needed breathing room and bring the score to 72-56 with 3 minutes left in game. John Wood would go on to win the game by the final score of 80-63 and advance onto the Semifinal game of the Region 24 tournament on Saturday, where they will take on #1 seed Parkland College at 2om at Lincoln Land Community College. This will make the first semifinal appearance for the Lady Blazers in nearly six years, and they will look to get over the hump and advance onto the championship game on Sunday at 1pm.

John Wood leading Scorers:

Jada Dupree: 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals

Katey Flynn: 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists

Grace Deters: 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists

Blair Eftink: 9 points