Duck hunting: Brown County girls ramp up defensive pressure to beat Havana, win regional title

LEWISTOWN, Ill. — The Brown County girls basketball team turned up the defensive heat to cook the Havana Ducks.

The Hornets limited Havana to just three made field goals in the first half and scored 18 consecutive points during a six-minute stretch overlapping the second and third quarters Saturday afternoon to roll to a convincing 58-29 victory in the championship game of the Class 1A Lewistown Regional.

Brown County, now 27-5 and ranked fifth in the final regular-season state poll, will play top-ranked Brimfield (27-4) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the semifinals of the Brimfield Sectional. Seventh-ranked Unity plays Elmwood in the other semifinal.

“Our defense was just incredible,” Brown County coach Dave Phelps said. “It starts with (point guard) Kaci McKeon and the way she guards the ball. She set the tone for us.”

Brown County defeated Havana 53-43 in the third-place game of the Beardstown Lady Tiger Classic in December, and another tight game appeared to be in the offing when Taryn Wickman sank two free throws with 4:20 left in the first half to pull the Ducks within 16-11.

By the time Havana scored again, it trailed by 23 points.

Katey Flynn drove the left baseline for a basket, the 5-foot-3 McKeon put in a rebound of a Klare Flynn miss and Gracie Hedden converted a layup off a McKeon steal in the backcourt to close out the first half and give Brown County a 22-11 lead.

The Hornets made 10 of 17 field goals in the first half and forced nine turnovers by the guard-oriented Ducks, who were just 3 of 19 from the field. Katey Flynn scored 11 of her 14 points in the first half to help overcome a scoreless opening two quarters by her twin sister, Klare.

“It speaks to our depth that our leading scorer doesn’t score in the first half and we have an 11-point lead,” Phelps said. “Her sister stepped up.”

Brown County turned the game into a rout in the opening minutes of the third quarter.

McKeon found Gabby McGath inside for a layup, Klare Flynn hit a 3-pointer from left of the circle and McGath spotted McKeon for a layup after Havana had turned the ball over on its first two possession to make it 29-11.

After a missed Havana shot, Katey Flynn drove the lane for a basket, was fouled and converted the three-point play. Klare Flynn then took a pass from her sister on an inbounds play underneath the Brown County basket for a layup to make it 34-11.

“We did a good job finishing,” Phelps said. “We didn’t have to take too many outside shots. I was happy with the way we cut and moved the basketball. And we did a good job of taking care of the basketball, especially in the second half.”

Josie Hughes finally ended the Ducks’ scoring drought with a 3-pointer from the right wing, but a driving layup and free throw by Klare Flynn off the break, a free throw by McKeon and another 3-pointer by Klare Flynn pushed the lead to 41-14.

Klare Flynn scored 13 of her game-high 16 points in the third quarter, which ended with the Hornets ahead 49-21. Her turnaround jumper from the lane to open the fourth quarter prompted a running clock for the remainder of the game.

Havana, which started four guards, made just 10 of 39 shots overall from the floor, including 4 of 15 from 3-point range, against the much taller Hornets. Hughes and Ella Kramer finished with nine points apiece for the Ducks, who end the year at 23-8.

“They live and die by the 3,” Phelps said of Havana. “Not many teams pressure like we do. A lot of teams feel like they have to hurry shots the way we close on the ball.

“Still, I had no idea it would be like this. I was expecting it to be a tight game. I never imagined a 30-point win.”

McGath finished with 11 points and McKeon nine for Brown County, which made 24 of 37 field goals. The only blemish was the free-throw line, where the Hornets were just 8 of 17.

To extend its school record for most victories in a season, Brown County will have to topple the state’s top-ranked team on its home floor.

“If we showed anything, it’s that we can play elite-style defense that allows us to stay in games,” Phelps said. “We’ll give it our best shot.”