BRODHEAD - Every time Brodhead sophomore Rachel Heller goes to the free-throw line, she spins the ball twice and dribbles it twice before shooting. It's a routine she has followed since middle school.
Heller and Brodhead's free-throw shooting paid off when it mattered most as the Cardinals knocked off Jefferson 60-49 in a WIAA Division 3 regional semifinal Friday night.
"Some of our girls are always superstitious about our free throws," Heller said. "I know it's weird and my number is 2, but it's something I have been doing since middle school."
Heller made 8 of 9 free throws and scored a game-high 16 points. The Cardinals made 26 of 32 free throws including 13 of 16 in the fourth quarter. Brodhead juniors Taylor Douglas and Amanda Pickel also each scored 16 points.
"Free throws are always crucial especially when it's tournament time," Heller said.
Brodhead (20-3) will host Rock Valley South Conference rival Clinton in a regional championship game tonight. The Cardinals swept two games from Clinton during the regular season. The loss last year to Edgerton in the regional is one that some players can't forget.
"Free throws, it seems, always decide every game," Pickel said. "It just gives us momentum going into tomorrow night. We still have a bad taste in our mouths after last year's game."
It wasn't easy for Brodhead. The Cardinals committed an uncharacteristic 17 turnovers and shot 31.8 percent (7-for-22) in the first half. The Cardinals led just 40-36 to start the fourth quarter.
Despite some obstacles, the Cardinals were able to take the lead for good in the second half by clamping down and limiting the Eagles to 36.3 percent shooting (8-for-22).
Heller scored on a layup and sophomore Meg Duffield drilled a 3-pointer with 4 minutes, 27 seconds to go to give the Cardinals a 49-37 lead.
Early on, the game had the makings of one that may come down to the fourth quarter. Douglas scored eight points in the first quarter to help the Cardinals take a 17-12 lead. Jefferson junior Abigyale Wellnitz then knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the Cardinals' lead to 17-15 at the end of the first period.
Jefferson sophomore Katelynne Heine scored on a three-point play early in the second quarter to give the Eagles an 18-17 lead. Pickel, who scored 10 points in the first half answered by knocking down a 3-pointer.
"We didn't do a bad job in the first half," Brodhead coach Brad Pickett said. "I thought we settled at times in the first half. We have to keep attacking the basket. Sometimes we have to give the girls friendly reminders."
The Cardinals didn't settle for outside shots in the third quarter and used a 6-0 spurt to take a nine-point lead. Heller scored on a layup and banked in a shot. Douglas made two free throws to give the Cardinals a 33-24 lead.
"Our main thing we want to do every game is pressure on defense," Heller said. "We know defense is what wins games. It was a little slow in the beginning. We progressed as the game went on and I love it."
Once the Eagles mounted a comeback, the Cardinals hit a couple of big shots and made free throws in the crunch.
"Those little things like boxing out and free throws do add up," he said.
Heller and Brodhead's free-throw shooting paid off when it mattered most as the Cardinals knocked off Jefferson 60-49 in a WIAA Division 3 regional semifinal Friday night.
"Some of our girls are always superstitious about our free throws," Heller said. "I know it's weird and my number is 2, but it's something I have been doing since middle school."
Heller made 8 of 9 free throws and scored a game-high 16 points. The Cardinals made 26 of 32 free throws including 13 of 16 in the fourth quarter. Brodhead juniors Taylor Douglas and Amanda Pickel also each scored 16 points.
"Free throws are always crucial especially when it's tournament time," Heller said.
Brodhead (20-3) will host Rock Valley South Conference rival Clinton in a regional championship game tonight. The Cardinals swept two games from Clinton during the regular season. The loss last year to Edgerton in the regional is one that some players can't forget.
"Free throws, it seems, always decide every game," Pickel said. "It just gives us momentum going into tomorrow night. We still have a bad taste in our mouths after last year's game."
It wasn't easy for Brodhead. The Cardinals committed an uncharacteristic 17 turnovers and shot 31.8 percent (7-for-22) in the first half. The Cardinals led just 40-36 to start the fourth quarter.
Despite some obstacles, the Cardinals were able to take the lead for good in the second half by clamping down and limiting the Eagles to 36.3 percent shooting (8-for-22).
Heller scored on a layup and sophomore Meg Duffield drilled a 3-pointer with 4 minutes, 27 seconds to go to give the Cardinals a 49-37 lead.
Early on, the game had the makings of one that may come down to the fourth quarter. Douglas scored eight points in the first quarter to help the Cardinals take a 17-12 lead. Jefferson junior Abigyale Wellnitz then knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the Cardinals' lead to 17-15 at the end of the first period.
Jefferson sophomore Katelynne Heine scored on a three-point play early in the second quarter to give the Eagles an 18-17 lead. Pickel, who scored 10 points in the first half answered by knocking down a 3-pointer.
"We didn't do a bad job in the first half," Brodhead coach Brad Pickett said. "I thought we settled at times in the first half. We have to keep attacking the basket. Sometimes we have to give the girls friendly reminders."
The Cardinals didn't settle for outside shots in the third quarter and used a 6-0 spurt to take a nine-point lead. Heller scored on a layup and banked in a shot. Douglas made two free throws to give the Cardinals a 33-24 lead.
"Our main thing we want to do every game is pressure on defense," Heller said. "We know defense is what wins games. It was a little slow in the beginning. We progressed as the game went on and I love it."
Once the Eagles mounted a comeback, the Cardinals hit a couple of big shots and made free throws in the crunch.
"Those little things like boxing out and free throws do add up," he said.
