Friday, December 30th, 2016 was Day 4 of the 2016 State Farm Holiday Classic (SFHC). Championship Day and Game 4 of the tournament for the Morton Lady Potters. The Lady Potters have played in the SFHC tournament 11 straight years and this was their 3rd trip to the Championship Game (06′, 14′ and 16′). Last year the Lady Potters finished 5th at the SFHC, losing in 4 OTs to the eventual Champion, Chicago North Lawndale in round #2. Obviously, Morton went on to beat Chicago North Lawndale in IHSA Class 3A State Championship last year in the rematch.
The tournament field was loaded again this year with very good teams including some of the very best Class 4A and 3A teams in the State of Illinois this year. Rock Island, Morton, Rochester and Normal U-High finished 1st-4th, but teams like Peoria Richwoods, Springfield, Normal Community High, Chicago North Lawndale are all among teams that will likely win a lot of games this year and have potential to go far in their respective post season tournaments. Of the 16 teams in the Large School Girls Bracket, it is very likely that 15 of the 16 will finish the season with winning records.
Of all of those 16 teams, Rock Island proved to be the best in the field at this tournament. Rock Island is largely thought of as one of the top 3 girls teams in the IHSA Class 4A this year, along with Montini and Edwardsville. With a 1,710 enrollment, and some very talented players within that enrollment, Rock Island showed that they were every bit as good as advertised coming into the tournament as they had been assigned the #1 seed.
Morton had been assigned the #2 seed coming into the tournament and they proved that they deserved that seeding as well, but while Morton had fought and clawed their way to the Championship game, winning each game by 3 points, Rock Island had averaged beating their three SFHC opponents by 26 points per game. Morton came into the tournament without the availability of their best individual player (2015 PJ Star Player of the year and All-Stater Brandi Bisping) due to illness, and had been adjusting their style of play to learn to play without relying on Bisping. Rock Island didn’t care about all of that and, at full strength, was looking to take advantage of the situation.
Both teams have very talented young rosters and the game started with Morton jumping out to a 4-0 lead. Rock Island pulled ahead by the end of the first quarter and lead 9-8, but Morton hang tough and limited the high powered Rock Island offense to 20 first half points to go into the halftime break trailing 16-20. Morton had contained Rock Island’s All-State super sophomore guard and had her a bit frustrated offensively. Unforunately, Morton didn’t capitalize offensively in the first half. Without Bisping in the line-up, Morton’s second chance points and rebounding were too few and their shooting was sub-par throughout the game. Credit Rock Island’s defense for much of Morton’s offensive struggles, as they made Morton lose their patience periodically and rush into some questionable shots.
Rock Island’s size and ability to attack the glass for second chance points started to take it’s toll in the third period. Morton was still within striking distance at the end of the third quarter, down 36-27, but shots that normally fall for the Potters were not dropping throughout the game. In the end, rebounding and missed shots sealed Morton’s fate on this day. Two elements that they desperately miss without their own All-Stater (Bisping).
Morton ended up losing the game 40-60, but there were some very good things that came out of the tournament for the Potters.
#1 – All of the players did an excellent job stepping up their games at different points throughout the tournament to make up for the absence of Bisping. Much like last year when Chandler Ryan was injured.
#2 – The team showed a lot of fortitude and a positive mental approach in close game situations. This team may be young, but they have a lot of experience in big game situations. It showed in these SFHC games and Coach Becker gave them a chance to prove themselves and play through some mistakes.
#3 – Morton proved they can compete at the highest levels, even without Bisping. This bodes well for the future of Lady Potter Basketball. The team is not the same team without Brandi, but can be an excellent different team without her, when that time comes. Finding that formula is likely at the top of the Lady Potter coaching staff’s minds until Brandi returns.
So for the 3rd time in 11 years, the Lady Potters come away with 2nd place at the State Farm Holiday Classic. I think the players probably wanted more, but they have plenty to be proud of and gained much experience for future games. Congrats Lady Potters!!!
Thank you to Don Pyles Photography for sharing the following photos from the SFHC Championship Game. If you would like to purchase originals from Don, you may contact him directly at snazy85@mtco.com.
