BLANCHARDVILLE - Kimee Chandler is no stranger to adversity in girls basketball WIAA Division 4 regional play. Thursday night, tough going brought out the best in her.
Chandler, just like the other nine Pecatonica players on the floor, was visibly winded after a frenetic first half of play, but gutted out 18 of her game-high-tying 26 points during the second half of a 70-57 semifinal victory over Madison Abundant Life at home.
"She was dog tired, everybody was," Vikings coach Josh Tarrell said, "but she just grinded it out and I couldn't be more proud of everyone's effort."
Chandler scattered three 3-pointers throughout the game and was matched by 26 points from Kristina Krogstad. Tarrell was just pleased the game had to end at some point.
"She didn't miss much for a while and it's a good thing there wasn't another quarter and she ran out of time," Tarrell said.
As for Chandler, she was electrifying because of how simple she made things, and her team followed suit.
"Kimee just didn't try to do too much, she let it come to her and played smart," Tarrell said. "This was the smartest game we played all year long."
The Vikings collected their thoughts after trailing, 18-15, through one quarter and won the middle quarters, 38-21. Now they'll prepare for a renewal of last year's regional finals clash Saturday with Black Hawk at Darlington.
Despite Pecatonica sweeping the season series between the Six Rivers East rivals, the Vikings are well aware the circumstances were the same in last year's upset for Black Hawk, during which Chandler badly sprained an ankle and missed the second half.
Chandler, just like the other nine Pecatonica players on the floor, was visibly winded after a frenetic first half of play, but gutted out 18 of her game-high-tying 26 points during the second half of a 70-57 semifinal victory over Madison Abundant Life at home.
"She was dog tired, everybody was," Vikings coach Josh Tarrell said, "but she just grinded it out and I couldn't be more proud of everyone's effort."
Chandler scattered three 3-pointers throughout the game and was matched by 26 points from Kristina Krogstad. Tarrell was just pleased the game had to end at some point.
"She didn't miss much for a while and it's a good thing there wasn't another quarter and she ran out of time," Tarrell said.
As for Chandler, she was electrifying because of how simple she made things, and her team followed suit.
"Kimee just didn't try to do too much, she let it come to her and played smart," Tarrell said. "This was the smartest game we played all year long."
The Vikings collected their thoughts after trailing, 18-15, through one quarter and won the middle quarters, 38-21. Now they'll prepare for a renewal of last year's regional finals clash Saturday with Black Hawk at Darlington.
Despite Pecatonica sweeping the season series between the Six Rivers East rivals, the Vikings are well aware the circumstances were the same in last year's upset for Black Hawk, during which Chandler badly sprained an ankle and missed the second half.
