Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
NORMAL — The Nashville Hornettes’ bid for a 2A Girls Basketball State Championship came up just short as Peoria Notre Dame freshman Emy Wardle hit a contested jumper in the lane with 1.3 seconds left to give the Irish a 48-46 win.
Wardle, the daughter of Bradley men’s basketball head coach Brian Wardle, led all scorers with 18 points.
Nashville rallied from a 9-point deficit late in the third, tying game at 46-46 with 2:22 to play. After a Peoria Notre Dame turnover, the Hornettes had the ball with a chance to take the lead but could not convert. The Irish then ran the clock down with Wardle attacking with eight seconds left. Makayla Gajewski blocked her shot out of bounds, but possession stayed with PND, and after a timeout, Wardle delivered what turned out to be the game winner. Trying for a miracle, the Hornettes’ inbounds pass was stolen, setting off an Irish celebration.
Peoria Notre Dame led 17-14 after one quarter, but Nashville used a 12-2 to take a 4-point second quarter lead. The Irish had only one field goal in the second quarter but went 7-8 from the free throw line to take a 26-24 lead into halftime.
Nashville tallied the first four points of the third quarter to grab a 28-26 lead, but the Irish used a 15-4 run to build a 41-32 lead. It was 41-34 after three quarters.
The youthful Hornettes slowly chipped away, getting a bucket and foul from freshman Samantha Brinkmann and a 3-pointer from senior Abby Knepp before another freshman, Summer Brinkmann, tied the game at 46. Nashville started three freshman, a sophomore, and a junior.
Emma Behrmann scored 14 points, and Samantha Brinkmann added 12 for Nashville, who ends the season 33-4.
