WHEATFIELD | Hanover Central's Blayr Poston stood on the floor with a T-shirt over her jersey and in sweat pants.
There was no need to put on her letterman's jacket, as she still hadn't cooled off after Saturday's electrifying performance in the Wildcats' 47-42 win over host Kankakee Valley in a Class 3A sectional semifinal.
All Poston did was score a game-high 28 points, making key shots throughout and hitting her free throws down the stretch.
Hanover will play Knox at 7 p.m. Monday for the championship.
"We all wanted it, and when the whole team wants it, that's when we go out there and play our hardest," Poston said. "We don't give up until that game is over."
Poston hit a 3-pointer early in the third quarter to give Hanover (13-7) its biggest lead at 27-14. When K.V. cut the lead to 35-34 early in the fourth, she buried a 3-pointer and followed it up with drive down the lane to put Hanover up 40-34.
"My 3s weren't really on today, so I didn't take very many," Poston said. "But I did drive to the basket a lot, which got me the fouls, and I got to make some free throws."
K.V. got within two points twice at 40-38 and 42-40, and Poston hit a pair of free throws to thwart the run. Her two foul shots with 26 seconds left in the game put Hanover up 46-40.
"I don't think (K.V.) ever got the lead, and I'm happy for that, because the roof probably would‘ve blown off this place," Nelson said. "We've lost some games in the past when we had big leads, lost our composure and lost the game.
"I'm glad that we answered, stood there and took it."
Katie Dominguez added nine points.
"We just had to calm down and play the game that we've been playing all year," she said. "We've gotten so much better throughout the entire year."
Hanover raced to a 10-1 lead and held a 15-7 advantage at the first stop. Hanover led 24-13 at the half as K.V. (12-10) struggled to get going.
"We sure didn't come out ready to start that game, that‘s for sure," K.V. coach Ryan Myers said. "It seemed like Poston, every time we would make a run at it and cut it close, she would be the one that kept that lead."
Ashley Norberg and Hailey Ruesken each had 11 points for K.V.
"I'm proud of our kids," Myers said.
Please Wait…