Queen of Peace senior Kara Shimko was in a pretty bad groove during Thursday night's GCAC White game against host Providence.

The Cardinal Stritch recruit had no points over the first 13:22 and was benched by Pride coach George Shimko, her father.

“Well, I wouldn't say benched,” Kara said with a smile.

“I just didn't get into the flow early enough, so he wanted me to watch a little bit. He gave me some time to think about where I needed to be on the floor.”

Over the final 2:38 of the first half, the 5-foot-4 guard found her flow. It was more like a tidal wave, and spurred the Pride on to a 45-34 victory.

Shimko led Queen of Peace (20-1, 7-0) with 17 points and eight rebounds. Jovanna Martinucci added 11 points and Ashley Lynch contributed 10 points.

Ryann Ogarek scored 15 points and had eight rebounds for Providence (13-7, 4-3).

Peace was trailing Providence 17-12 when Shimko made her first 3-pointer. The next time down the floor she hit another. Then, at the buzzer, Shimko took a pass from Martinucci and drained yet another 3-pointer.

Shimko started the third quarter with another three as the Pride went on to build a double-digit lead.

She was in the flow.

“We just started setting screens,” Kara said. “Jovanna is a good point guard to realize when Ashley Lynch sets the screens, and recognizes when I'm wide open.

“When I hit the first one, I can I feel it. Jovanna recognizes that, too. That's why she gets me the ball so well.”

Martinucci recognized another thing. In the final minute of the first quarter she was on the floor with a hurting ankle after a Providence rebounder sent her flying to the floor.

She didn't sit too long.

“When I'm out of the game it's really hard because we're missing a point guard,” Martinucci said. “I know my team needs me, and I want to win.

“I told myself, ‘You can't sit here. You have to go in and help them.' ”

Martinucci went back early in the second quarter and played the rest of the game. She came up huge when Providence drew within eight with three minutes remaining, completing a three-point play to give the Pride some needed space.

The Celtics, meanwhile, gave Peace all it could handle early. Ogarek, a sophomore guard, was particularly key, scoring nine first-half points.

Kara Shimko, though, stuck the pin in the Celtics' upset balloon.

“Those 11 points in three minutes, that was the difference in the ball game,” Providence coach Eileen Copenhaver said. “We couldn't see to get on track offensively. But it was a very good, physical game.”

Beecher 50, Gardner-South Wilmington 36: Taylor Johnson poured in 29 points for host Beecher (17-6, 8-0 River Valley).

Hillcrest 50, Evergreen Park 48: Gia Wright's two free throws with five seconds left lifted Hillcrest (12-6, 6-1 SSC Blue) in the South Suburban crossover. Kyla Cornelius scored 22 points for the Hawks.

Mother McAuley 62, St. Ignatius 51: Vanessa Gavin scored 23 points and Tara O'Malley added 16 for Mother McAuley (13-6, 2-2 GCAC Red).

Oak Forest 44, Eisenhower 28: Lydia Howard scored 20 points and Hallee Usterbowski added 12 for Oak Forest in the South Suburban crossover.

Oak Lawn 48, Bremen 26: Danielle Quigley had 19 points, five rebounds and five steals and Madelyn McGrath added 17 points for Oak Lawn (12-11, 4-3 SSC Red) in the South Suburban crossover.

Rich South 55, Kankakee 32: Nadege Jean finished with 20 points and eight rebounds while Dejah Weathersby scored 10 points for Rich South (9-8, 3-2 Southland).

Shepard 68, T.F. South 57: Cassidy McCarthy scored 25 points for Shepard (8-12, 5-2 SSC Red) in the South Suburban crossover.

Lincoln-Way East 55, Stagg 48: Dorian Aluyi and Zach Parduhn scored 15 points each for Lincoln-Way East (11-5, 1-2 SWSC Blue).

Morgan Park 78, Bogan 62: Ayo Dosunmu scored 25 points for Morgan Park (11-2, 5-1 Public Red-South).

Oak Lawn 65, Bremen 55: Rashad Johnson had 18 points and Adam Stallworth contributed 14 for Oak Lawn (6-11, 2-5 SSC Red) in the South Suburban crossover.

Andrew 1,901, Stagg 1,195: Lauren Herald had the high two-game series (466) and game (265) for Andrew in the SouthWest Suburban crossover at Palos Lanes.

Lockport 2,275, Lincoln-Way West 1,774: Bailey Delrose posted the high two-game series (517) and Monica Colon had the high game (267) for Lockport in the SouthWest Suburban crossover at Strike and Spare II.

Oak Lawn 1,877, Bremen 1,637: LeAnne Kommenich posted the high two-game series (419) and Stephanie Gasca had the high game (222) for Oak Lawn in the South Suburban crossover at Palos Lanes.

Reavis 1,550, Evergreen Park 1,220: Alyssa Moscato had the high game (200) for Reavis in the South Suburban Red match.

Richards 1,971, Argo 1,389: Alexandra Wozniak had the high two-game series (435) and game (241) for Richards in the South Suburban Red.

Lockport 64, Lincoln-Way East 9: Matt Kronsbein (126) and Yousif Salah (195) had pins for Lockport in the SouthWest Suburban Blue dual.

Rich South 42, Thornton 31: Seth Perkins (195) and Ricky Johnson (220) recorded pins for Rich South.

Lewis 76, Missouri-St. Louis 73: Miles Simelton led Lewis (10-5, 5-0 GLVC) with 22 points.

Lewis 70, Missouri-St. Louis 68: Jessica Kelliher scored with three seconds left for Lewis (13-3, 5-1 GLVC). Kelliher scored 25 points and Jamie Johnson added 13.

Moraine Valley 61, McHenry 53: Michelle Borgen had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Erin Drynan added 14 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocked shots) for Moraine Valley (16-1, 2-0 Skyway).

abaranek@tribpub.com

Twitter @tbaranek

Freelance writer Steve Millar contributed.