Extra Points: Minooka Breaks Free for Milestone Victory

Indians hit 4 of 5 in the final minute to advance to Normal sectional semifinals.

DANVILLE—Free throws. You won’t see many of them on any highlight shows, unless they determine the outcome of a game. They were a determining factor in Minooka High School’s 51-48 win over Danville on Friday in the Class 3A Danville Regional championship game. The Indians (23-4) went 4-of-5 from the charity stripe during the final minute to pull away from the pesky Vikings and win the school’s first regional plaque in 31 years. “This is a credit to these girls,” Minooka coach Ray Liberatore said. “We hit some clutch free throws at the end. Sara Placher really stepped up at the end there.” The junior guard went 4-of-4 from the line during the final minute. “I just had to concentrate and not worry about the crowd,” Placher said. Senior …

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Tyrell's Toughess Making a Difference for Minooka Girls

Indians use strong second half to pull away from Rosary in pool play at Oswego Holiday Classic.

When Minooka girls basketball coach Ray Liberatore says senior forward Terese Tyrell plays like a football player, he means it as an ultimate compliment. "She'll bang, she'll play defense and rebound," Liberatore said. "She'll do all the little things that as a coach you're lucky if you have a player like Terese. She loves to do it. She doesn't care how many points she scores, that's just how she plays every night. She's a big part of why we win games." Tyrell was a big part of why Minooka was able to pull away for a comfortable 70-41 victory over Rosary Tuesday at the Oswego Holiday Classic. She finished with 11 points, 11 rebounds, a steal and a block. "I do my best to contribute in any way I can and it happens to be being tough, I guess…

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Minooka, Clemmons Power Past Oswego East

Indians' junior center scores career-high 32 points and grabs 13 rebounds to lead rout of Wolves.

When Minooka had its three-year Southwest Prairie Conference championship streak snapped last season, it didn't sit well with junior Ashley Clemmons. The 6-foot-1 center doesn't want to have that feeling again. She turned in a career-best performance Tuesday against one of the teams that finished ahead of the Indians last season. Clemmons erupted for 32 points, 13 rebounds, four blocks and a steal to lead Minooka to a convincing 63-30 victory over visiting Oswego East. "It means a lot to me," Clemmons said of her performance. "I could've only done it with all the guards passing to me. The other girls really came together and helped me out. We want to try to win conference this year. It was really big winning this game because it's supposed…

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Indians Set to Go on Conference War Path

Three-year player Stephanie Furr aims to put Minooka back on top on Southwest Prairie Conference girls basketball standings.

Minooka ruled the Southwest Prairie Conference girls basketball scene from the time the league was formed until last year. Oswego and Oswego East shared the SPC title a year ago, while Minooka placed third. Now, Minooka wants to take the crown back. The Indians will get that chance starting with their season opener vs. Lincoln-Way Central at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, in New Lenox. "I expect us to be able to shoot the ball very well from the perimeter," said Minooka coach Ray Liberatore, entering his ninth year. The Indians went 20-8 overall a year ago and 10-4 in the league. They lost just five SPC games over the previous three years, winning or sharing the conference championship in 2007, '08 and '09. "We have to play well on the defensive …

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Minooka Volleyball Finally Gains Revenge on Quincy

Indians beat Blue Devils 25-23, 25-21 to reach sectional final at Pekin.

PEKIN – Minooka has been waiting for more than a decade to exact revenge on Quincy for knocking the Indians out of the Class AA state girls volleyball tournament. That was in 1999. "We talked about that," Minooka coach Chris Hoelscher said. "The last time Minooka went this far, Quincy beat them in the quarterfinals downstate." This time, 11 years later, Minooka knocked Quincy out of the state tournament after a 25-23, 25-21 victory in a Class 3A Pekin sectional semifinal match Tuesday night at Pekin High School. Minooka (26-6-1) faces Edwardsville (30-9) at 7 p.m. Thursday in the sectional championship match, the winner moving on to the Normal West supersectional on Saturday. "This is the first time we've gotten this far since 1999," …