By Bob Narang, Special to the Tribune

9:24 p.m. CST, December 27, 2013

Trinity twice cut its deficit to a point during Friday's game against Rolling Meadows.

Each time, No. 5 Rolling Meadows answered with a big run aided by a scoring drought by No. 7 Trinity to pull out a 65-52 victory in a semifinal of the Montini Christmas Tournament.

"We've got eight seniors and they are kids that I'm going to trust," Rolling Meadows coach Ryan Kirkorsky said. "We've been in every situation the last few years. ... They know how to respond."

The Mustangs (14-1) will face either Marian Catholic or Montini in the tournament final at 8:15 p.m. Saturday.

Jackie Kemph led the Mustangs with 21 points and four assists, but the inside play of Jenny Vliet (19 points, 13 rebounds) and Ashley Montanez (14 points, 5 rebounds) was the difference. The Blazers (13-1) made just two 3-pointers in the first three quarters and couldn't keep Montanez and Vliet off the glass.

"They made a run in the third quarter, and at that point we slowed down on offense, ran our sets and worked the ball inside," Vliet said.

Trinity senior guard Lauren Prochaska's basket sliced Rolling Meadows lead to 12-11 in the first quarter. Kemph scored six straight points during a 10-0 run and the Blazers shot 3-for-19 the rest of the half and trailed 35-20 at the break.

Trinity sophomore forward Kaitlin Aylward's bucket late in the third quarter sliced the Mustangs' lead to 41-40.

Montanez answered with five straight points during a 9-0 spurt for a 50-40 lead following a basket by Alexis Glasgow to start the fourth quarter.

"This (game) is really going to help us," Trinity coach Ed Stritzel said. "Rolling Meadows is a good team. I thought the boards hurt us in the first half."

Player of the game: Jenny Vliet, Rolling Meadows, 19 points, 13 rebounds.

Key performers: Trinity — Lauren Prochaska, 16 points, 4 assists; Patricia Stritzel, 14 points. Rolling Meadows — Jackie Kemph, 21 points, 4 assists; Ashley Montanez, 14 points, 5 rebounds.