Liston, controversial call, help
Fenwick past Lincoln-Way East
By Drake Skleba
With respect to the Beatles song-writing duo of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, No. 8 Fenwick clearly won Tuesday night's Sweet 16 Tournament game "with a litle help from my friends."
The Friars welcomed back senior All-American Tricia Liston who scored 26 points, 12 in the final stanza, to lead Fenwick to a thrilling 45-42 win over the valiant hosts from Lincoln-Way East (12-3).
With the Griffins leading 37-29 with seconds remaining in the third quarter, the play of the game occurred.
Fenwick junior G Sarah Williams (13 points) dribbled the basketball 35 feet from the basket. Lincoln-Way East junior G Kelly McGovern fouled Williams as the third quarter buzzer went off. After she was fouled and clearly after the quarter had expired, Williams hooked a wild shot at the basket.
Unbelievably to most everyone in the gym, the officials awarded Williams three free throws. Fenwick was not yet in the bonus and should have not had any free throws in a quarter that should have ended with LWE up 37-29.
Instead Williams sunk all three shots. That seemed to ignite Liston, who had been blanked in the third period by the tight Griffin defense.
Liston scored five quick points to tie things up at 37 with 6:24 left in the game.
Fenwick led after one quarter 14-11. Liston did not start, but entered her first game since December 14 one minute into the game. The Duke-bound senior had mononucleosis.
Liston scored seven points in each of the first two stanzas.
East super soph Taylor Johnson (20 points, eight rebounds, three steals) led the Griffins with 13 first-half points. The hosts led 25-24 at the break.
In the third quarter with the score tied at 29 with 2:48 left, the sensational sophomore took over.
Johnson scored on a drive that gave the Griffins a 31-29 lead. Two Giavonna Heath (four points) free throws, and a steal by Johnson and feed to Heath for two, gave the Griffins a 35-29 lead with 0:56 left in the quarter.
Johnson's put back over Liston had the Griffin faithful going crazy as Lincoln-Way East opened up its largest lead of the night at 37-29 with 0:27 left.
"We battled against one of the top teams in the state," said Lincoln-Way East head coach Jim Martin. "I am very proud of the way we played tonight. Taylor Johnson had a sensational game."
In the fourth quarter a Johnson put back gave the Griffins their last lead of the night at 40-38.
Two Liston freebies tied things up and then Liston picked up the first of two huge steals in the quarter. Liston knocked down another pair of free throws that put Fenwick (16-2) up by a pair.
With 0:52 left, Griffin 5-foot-9 junior F Julia Piech (eight points) hit a pair of free throws that tied the game for the fifth time at 42. The freebies ended a 4:17 drought for L-W East.
Liston picked up a monster block and was then fouled with 16.6 seconds left. The All-American nailed down her ninth and tenth charity tosses of the quarter.
"It was a good win and great to come from behind to get it," said Liston. 'It was great to be back on the court again. I was just cleared to play today. I am happy with my performance."
Williams added a free throw to conclude the scoring with five seconds remaining. A desperation three missed and Fenwick head coach Dave Power had picked up another win in his illustrious coaching career.
"It's great to see Trish back. Lincoln-Way East is a ranked team and we are very happy to come away with a big win on the road," said Power. "I was happy to get the big run at the end of the game to get the win."
