In the first semi-final Cardinal O’Hara (PA) defeated Regis Jesuit (CO,) 53-49. Stephanie Holzer led Cardinal O’Hara with 19 points, but fouled out on a technical with 2:12 remaining in the game. O’Hara was barely able to hold on for the victory. Maryland commit Natasha Cloud was limited by the Regis defense to just four points. Alisha Womack who is committed to Monmouth scored 13 points and carried the load late for O’Hara, once Holzer left the game.
Regis was led by Mariah Williams with 15 points. Williams is headed to UCLA next season. Regis never led in the game, with O’Hara up by as much as 11 in the second half.
Click on the image for highlights of the Cardinal O’Hara versus Regis Jesuit game.
After trailing by 12 points at half time, Bolingbrook started the second half on a 17-2 run to down previously undefeated Oak Ridge, 62-50. Ariel Massengale scored only two points in the first half but notched 10 second-half points, as well as locking down MTSU- bound Kortni Jones who ended the game with just 10 points. Jones turned the ball over five times in the second half as Bolingbrook made their run. As has been the story much of the week freshman Morgan Tuck scored 20 points and controlled the paint for Bolingbrook.
Click on the image for highlights of the Oak Ridge versus Bolingbrook semi-final game.
History Was Made
Christ the King took their all-time worst loss in the Tournament of Champions, trailing 38-10 at half time on the way to a 70-26 loss to Long Beach Poly. Prior to the event some other publications had Christ the King as high as number 3 nationally and pegged as one of the potential favorites to win this event. Christ the King will be without Tahira Johnson (USF) and Bria Smith in the 15th place game on Monday against Dallas Lincoln who will also be looking for their first win of the event after losing to Bishop McGuiness (NC).
Keep on Rolling
Mater Dei continued their winning ways behind Kaleena Lewis and Jordan Adams with a win over Centennial (NV). They will face Bishop Gorman (NV) on Monday in the Mike Despert Division championship game. Bishop Gorman fell to Archbishop Carroll today. But Carroll, who would have gone on to face Mater Dei in the Despert Division Championship game, could not remain until Monday to finish the event, so Gorman will replace Carroll in Monday's game against Mater Dei, a game that Mater Dei will be heavily favored to win.
Tournament of Champions Final Day Prediction
Cardinal O’Hara versus Bolingbrook
This game has several intruiging match-ups. First and foremost, in the front court, O’Hara and Bolingbrook have the two lead candidates for MVP of the entire event in Vandy-bound forward Stephanie Holzer (O’Hara) and super-frosh Morgan Tuck (Bolingbrook). Holzer has dominated the paint in her first three games but has yet to face an adversary like Tuck. If Tuck can face up and make Holzer guard her, Bolingbrook will have the advantage, if Holzer gets good position on Tuck and is able to get her deep on the block and in foul trouble, advantage O’Hara. Second, in the backcourt Bolingbrook's Ariel Massengale is the premiere guard in the game but is playing an experienced O’Hara backcourt led by Danielle Callahan who has signed at LaSalle. If Bolingbrook is able to effectively pressure the ball and speed up the game they have a good chance at victory. If O’Hara is able to control the tempo they will pull the game out.
Prediction: O’Hara by 7
Ramifications of Monday
If Bolingbrook is able to win on Monday it will essentially clinch a national number 1 spot for Ben Davis who is currently undefeated and who handed Bolingbrook its only loss of the season. If Cardinal O’Hara wins, they likely will be a unanimous choice to be the top team in the country in the upcoming rankings.