Lueken, Greco lead DG South girls past York in OT, face Niles West in final

After 35 minutes and 53 seconds of action, the 8th Annual York Thanksgiving Tournament hosts the Lady Dukes of York had possession of the basketball.

With Downers Grove South (3-0) clinging to a 49-48 lead with seven seconds left in overtime in the tournaments’ first semifinal game Thursday night, coach Lyndsie Long, was hoping her heart would hold out.

York (2-1) junior guard, Sara Krissnger launched up the potential game-winning shot with four seconds to go in the first overtime.

The ball clanged right into Mustang senior guard Maggie Greco’s waiting hands.

Knowing that the clock had gone to 3.8 seconds Greco just held on to the ball. It took two seconds for the Lady Dukes to foul Greco with 1.8 seconds left, in the contest .

Greco (11 points, five steals, three rebounds) calmly sank both free throws and watched the Lady Dukes’ desperation 60-foot three pointer fall short.

The Mustangs were 51-48 winners in a heart-wrenching victory.

The Mustangs will face fellow-Bugle Newspaper school, Niles West, championship Friday night, at 7:30 pm.

The Wolves (2-1) defeated Oswego East, 56-45, in the tournament’s second semifinal.

“I just got through telling the girls they are going to give me a heart attack,” Long said. “We knew coming in that York was a very disciplined, well coached team. We played very well on defense tonight. We had a few problems that we were able to overcome. We really remained composed down the stretch. Maggie hit the huge two free throws to wrap up our huge win.”

“I knew all I had to do was just hold the ball with the clock under five seconds,” Greco said. “The York girls didn’t realize that and took them two seconds to foul me. It was just a matter of  breathing and concentrating on the basket. Sure there was pressure on me but I was very confident that I would make them both.”

In 2015, Longs’  Mustangs of Downers Grove South, took home the Fifth Annual York Thanksgiving Tournament Championship trophy, back to Norfolk Street, in Downers Grove. A young upstart, Mustang freshman, Holly Lueken, was just starting her career.

On Thursday night, Lueken scored 25 points, blocked six Lady Duke shots, hauled down 10 rebounds and was charged with four counts of larceny (four steals). Other than that, the 6-foot-1 senior didn’t do much.

“It felt really good to beat York,” Lueken said, “We play them every year and it is always a tough game. We are really improving each game. I played really well tonight and the refs allowed me to be physical. York is a very good team. We will be ready for Niles West tomorrow night.”

Mustang sophomore Meghan Stapleton played an outstanding all-around game for DGS, scoring 10 points and hauling down 8 rebounds. Stapleton’s two huge free throws tied the game at 44 with 52 seconds left in regulation.

“We played pretty tough tonight. I knew it would be a tough game with York,” Stapleton said. “I played well. Earlier in the tournament my 3’s were not falling. I was really happy to hit the huge one in the third quarter and really happy to knock down my free throws for us, late in regulation. I also want to thank my teammates for getting me the ball to score.”

We will continue to fight in tomorrow’s championship game and I am confident we will win.”

Several Mustang turnovers, kept this one close as DGS clung to a 24-23 lead at the half. Stapleton buried a huge three-pointer to help the Mustangs extend their lead, to 34-29 after three quarters.

A turnover-filled Mustang, fourth quarter, allowed the Lady Dukes, to tie the game in regulation and send it to overtime.

“We really needed a tough game this and to win really brings our whole team together,”  Greco said. “Our bench was great tonight. We can’t win without them. Holly is my right hand. Holly setting a screen for me. Holly getting a rebound. Holly making a free-throw. She is a great teammate and we work well together.”

“Megan (Stapleton), was a warrior tonight for us,” Long added. “She hit some huge free throws for us and played great defense. Holly was outstanding again,tonight.  Here we go, we are in the championship game.”