After Hope beat Bogan in Friday’s Windy City semifinal at DePaul, Hope guard Zhaque Gray said she wanted to be diplomatic about playing Marshall in the city final on Saturday.
“I don’t want to say what I really feel,” she said.
But it was obvious that Hope had wanted to play Marshall all season — I mean, really wanted to play the Commandos based on Gray's body language after the semifinal.
The No. 1 Eagles blew an 11-point first-half lead, but came back thanks to sophomore Candise Lundy’s defense. She stole the ball right out of Marshall forward Sarah Rogers’ hands under the basket and made the winning basket. Hope won 64-60. Gray was gushing about Lundy after the game.
“She is an amazing jumper and got all the rebounds I asked her to do, and kicked out the ball to me,” Gray said. “She is going to get a lot of boards. She is a great defender and we put her on all the players we need to stop.”
Gray scored 11 points in the third quarter. At halftime, with the score tied at 28 and the 11-point lead blown out of the water, Gray’s teammates told her they needed her.
She responded and finished with 25 points — and a city championship.
The next time Marshall and Hope could meet would be in the Class 3A state championship game.
And it might be up to Lundy and Gray again.