Panthers lock down in closing stretch to quell Fightin’ Irish comeback

December 28, 2022 | By Muddy River Sports

December 27, 2022 - Normal, Illinois - Despite pressure from Bishop McNamara's Tessa DiPietra, Southeastern's Brilyn Lantz forces a shot in the paint during her team's game on Tuesday at the State Farm Holiday Classic. The Lady Panthers defeated the Fightin' Irish, 36-27. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Despite pressure from Bishop McNamara's Tessa DiPietra, Central-Southeastern's Brilyn Lantz looks to get a shot up in the paint during Tuesday’s game in the State Farm Holiday Classic at Normal Community High School in Normal, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

NORMAL, Ill. — Having watched a nine-point advantage dwindle to three, the Central-Southeastern girls basketball players simply refused to let Kankakee Bishop McNamara draw any closer.

The Panthers made their free throws, too.

Central-Southeastern outscored Bishop McNamara 8-2 over the final 2 minutes, 40 seconds of regulation Tuesday night and earned a 36-27 victory in the opening round of the State Farm Holiday Classic at Normal Community High School. The Panthers made 6 of 8 free throws in a 47-second stretch of the fourth quarter to put the game away.

A three-point halftime lead ballooned to a 24-15 edge at the end of the third quarter as the Panthers held the Fightin’ Irish to one field goal in the frame. Bishop McNamara didn’t score the final 4:45 of the third quarter.

However, the Fightin’ Irish twice trimmed the deficit to three points in the fourth quarter, closing within 28-25 after Leigha Brown scored in the post with 3:20 to play.

C-SE’s Amanda Stephens scored on a layin off an inbounds pass with 2:40 to play to kickstart the Panthers’ closing run. Brilyn Lantz went 4 of 6 from the line in the fourth quarter and finished with nine points for C-SE, while Tori Fessler added nine points.

The seventh-seeded Panthers will face second-seeded Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the quarterfinals at Bloomington High School.