Learned's launch a winner Wheaton Academy nips Plano in triple overtime on 3-pointer at buzzer.(Sports) - Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)

Byline: Dave Miller Daily Herald Sports Writer

Amanda Learned knew she didn't have much time.

As soon as she caught a pass at the top of the key, Learned launched an off-balanced 3-pointer.

The shot arched high through the air before falling through the basket as time expired, lifting Wheaton Academy over Plano 74-73 in triple overtime Thursday night on the first day of the Lisle Holiday Cage Classic.

'It was very nerve-wracking,' said Learned, a 5-foot-10 sophomore who made five 3-pointers in the marathon. 'I knew there was only like one second left so I just kind of threw it up.'

'We had two girls on her and she still sent it up high and got it in,' said Plano coach Jim Green.

'The funny thing is the shot we got was by design,' said Wheaton Academy coach Kori Hockett. 'The way she shot it was not necessarily by design. But Amanda is a gamer. She just tends to hit big shots when it matters.'

It looked as if Wheaton Academy (6-5) was ready to win in regulation after a 3-pointer by Learned gave the Warriors a 52-45 lead with 2:29 left. But Plano (5-7) closed the fourth quarter with a game-tying 9-2 run in the final 1:28 on 3 free throws by Amber Stejskal sandwiched by 3-pointers by Stejskal and Cara Cooper. The game went into overtime after the Reapers missed two close shots in the final seconds.

Wheaton Academy's Colleen Kehoe split a one-and-one opportunity to tie the game at 60 with 11 seconds remaining in the first overtime.

At the other end, Stejskal drove the left baseline but her shot bounced off the rim at the buzzer.

In the second overtime, Plano missed a pair of free throws with 10 seconds left leading 66-64. Kehoe got the rebound for Wheaton Academy and the Warriors called timeout with :06 to go.

After the inbounds pass, Megan Taylor received the ball along the right baseline and threw a high pass to Chessum stationed to the left of the basket. Chessum corraled the ball and hit an 8- footer with one second remaining to tie the game at 66.

The Warriors broke out to a 70-66 lead in the third overtime on 2 free throws by Chessum and a bucket by Kehoe, but Plano came back and took a 73-71 lead on a Cooper 3-pointer with 22 seconds left on the clock.

The Warriors remained undaunted at that point.

'We still had our heads up,' Learned said. 'We were ready to go. We were ready to win that game. It was the longest game ever, but we were ready to win that.'

Eight players finished scoring in double figures. Cooper registered a game-high 21, while Beth Michaelson had 20, and Jenin Robinson and Stejskal notched 14 apiece for the Reapers, who played just six players.

Learned and Kehoe each scored 19, Chessum contributed 14 and Jessica Thomas collected 13 points and 8 assists for Wheaton Academy, which led 22-20 at the half and 38-37 after three quarters.

Timothy Christian 67, Westmont 19: A couple days off didn't hurt Timothy Christian's shooting touch.

The Trojans (11-2) shot 52 percent in rolling to victory in its tourney opener. They rode runs of 10-0 and 15-0 in the first half to take a 35-7 advantage into the locker room.

'We shot really well,' said Timothy Christian coach Jill Groenewold. 'We got a lot of inside which helped us out a lot. I think our posts played extremely well and exploited our height advantage.

The other thing we did nice was get up the court really well.'

Emily Carwell led all scorers with 14 points on 7-for-11 shooting, while Wendy Zigterman and Larae Woudstra each added 9 points for the Trojans.

'It's been awhile since we've had a close game so it'll be nice to play some good teams,' Carwell said. 'The last six games I don't think anyone has been within 20 points so we're ready for some good competition.'

Woudstra will miss the next two games to attend her brother Lee's wedding in Nebraska.

Montini 53, Luther North 29: Kelly Kero canned three 3-pointers in scoring a game-high 14 points to push Montini's record to 8-2.

Lindsay Bava chipped in 9 points for the Broncos, who built a 30-9 halftime lead as Kero and Gena Davison each hit a pair of 3- pointers in the second quarter.

Bishop McNamara 46, Immaculate Conception 35: Blair Bennet poured in 25 points to lead the Irish to victory. IC received 8 points apiece from Colleen hagerty and Kim Karges.

Lisle 51, Beecher 32: Erika Buchholz rang up 25 points and Lisa Gartelos registered 17 to power the host Lions (9-3) to a win.

Gartelos scored 15 of her points in the first half to help stake Lisle to a 26-14 halftime advantage.