Resurrection 50
Trinity        48
The Trinity basketball team let slip a chance at defending its Girls Catholic Athletic Conference title on Saturday as the Blazers fell 50-48 to Resurrection in the tournament’s championship game.
The tournament was hosted by Trinity and featured four teams all ranked in the top 20 vying for the title. The lowest ranked team, Resurrection, knocked off both Loyola and Trinity in close contests in the semi-final and final to come out on top.
Although the Blazers (21-6) defeated the Bandits earlier in the season 69-48, this second meeting was a different story. Resurrection standout Deanna Ortiz hit a 3-pointer at the onset to set the stage for a contest that featured seven ties. The first and second quarter both ended all knotted up, while the Blazers inched ahead by three to close out the third period. At the start of the final quarter, Shakyia Vassar completed a three-point play to put the Blazers ahead, 40-34. The Bandits roared back to tie the game again.
“It was a dog fight. We were up six, but we let them crawl back in,” said Trinity coach Ed Stritzel after the disappointing loss.
Caneka Davis, a tough defender off the bench for Trinity, had key offensive plays to keep her team in the game. Davis hit a bucket at the end of the third to give the Blazers a three-point edge, and calmly sank two free throws in the final minute to tie the game one last time.
“I knew we needed them. All I could think about was to put the ball in the basket,” said Davis.
Ortiz, who had 14 points overall, finished off the game for the Bandits as she made two free throws to put her team up by four. Time ran out for Trinity as Amanda Macchione scored the last two of her 11 points to cut the margin of victory to a bucket.
Erica Cross battled under the boards and grabbed 10 rebounds. Cross averaged three blocks a game coming into the final.
“Resurrection came out and played hard tonight. We’ll be back in the gym on Monday,” said the senior.
Macchione, complemented her play with eight rebounds in the loss. Monica Albano had a game high 18 points for the Blazers that included 11 consecutive points. Although disappointed with the outcome, the junior was looking to the future.
“We’ll practice harder, work harder. I’m looking forward to state,” said Albano, who averaged just over 21 points per game in the conference tournament.
In Trinity’s quarterfinal 56-49 victory over Queen of Peace, Albano surpassed a career milestone of 1,200 points, 200 assists and 200 steals. Caprice Smith, now playing at DePaul University, holds the school record of 1,864 points.
Trinity won the semifinal 65-59 over Mother McAuley. Both teams played a lighting fast style. The Blazers overcame a six-point deficit going into the final quarter to win. Albano scored 25 points, followed by Vassar and Macchione who chipped in 11 apiece.
The Blazers finish off the regular season tomorrow at home against St Francis Wheaton at 7 pm. They start their quest for the inaugural Class 3A State Championship on Feb. 12 at Crane High School. Trinity will host the River Forest Sectional the following week where they could match-up against highly-ranked Marshall.