Dec. 30--Montini's guards heard the early second-quarter message from its bench loud and clear.
After watching his team bypass open opportunities, Broncos coach Jason Nichols barked out, "Shoot the ball!"
Over the next five possessions, Lea Kerstein made two 3-pointers and Kaylee Bambule added another to spark No. 1 Montini to a 55-39 victory over No. 9 Hersey on Tuesday in a Montini Christmas Tournament semifinal.
Kerstein scored all of her game-high 18 points on six 3-pointers. The Broncos (15-0) evenly split their 20 field goals into 10 3s 10 two-pointers.
"Hersey is a heavy help team on defense," Kerstein said, "so if we drove we would get open shots. Coach just had to remind us."
The Broncos will play No. 4 Young in Wednesday's 8:15 p.m. final.
Hersey (12-2) attempted to knock off its second undefeated team in two days after defeating Huntley in Monday's quarterfinals, but Montini's pressure defense did not let that happen. The Huskies had 22 turnovers, including nine in the first quarter.
Kerstein, a UAB recruit, stretched Montini's lead to 32-14 midway through the second quarter with her fourth 3-pointer of the half.
The Huskies battled to within eight points late in the third quarter following a 3-pointer by Gina Miklasz, but then turned the ball over five straight times to ruin a comeback bid.
Of Montini's 15 wins, 13 have come by more than 10 points.
Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
Player of the game: Lea Kerstein, Montini, 18 points, 6 3-pointers.
Key performers: Hersey -- Claire Gritt, 12 points, 4 3-pointers. Montini -- Aaliyah Patty, 8 points, 6 rebounds.
