>Hansbrough, Irish fail to get past Louisville

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An ironic twist doomed Notre Dame in the Big East Tournament semifinals Friday night — Ben Hansbrough tried too hard.
Normally content to let the game come to him when he’s struggling with his shooting, Hansbrough had no choice
but to turn it up a notch after the Irish frittered away a 14-point lead in the second half under Louisville pressure.
But the Big East Player of the Year missed a Kemba Walker-like step-back jumper that would have won the game at the end of regulation. Then he missed two shots in the final minute of overtime that would have given the Irish a chance as Louisville rallied for an 83-77 win before a capacity crowd at Madison Square Garden t hat included former Presiden t Bill Clinton.
‘‘It’s a perfect example of someone who almost wanted it too much,’’ Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said. ‘‘It was an emotional investment in him wanting it so bad that he tied himself in knots.
‘‘[But] he’s the reason we’re in this position. We just have to get him some rest and get him going again.’’
Hansbrough scored 13 points on 3-for-16 shooting. He missed two free throws with 3:53 to go in regulation and had six turnovers to go with five assists as Notre Dame (26-6) was denied its first Big East title game. No. 3 seed Louisville (25-8) plays No.  9 seed Connecticut tonight.
The Irish, who still hope to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, overcame Hansbrough’s 1-for-8 shooting in the first half to build a 46-32 lead. Scott Martin scored 13 of his 21 points on 5-for-7 shooting, and Tim Abromaitis added 12 of his 14 points on 5-for-6 shooting in the half.
But Louisville turned up the heat with backcourt pressure in the second half, relentlessly drove to the basket and threw Notre Dame off
kilter. The Irish shot 8-for-28 in the second half — 3-for-13 from three-point range — while being outrebounded 30-18. Louisville had 23 offensive rebounds for the game.
‘‘They took us apart [in t
he first half],’’ Louisville coach Rick Pitino said. ‘‘I said you’ve got one shot at winning this game — you’ve got to take their legs out from them and it’ll pay off in the end. They did a fabulous job.’’
Notre Dame still led 66-58 on a Hansbrough three-pointer with 6:35 to go. But after Martin grabbed an errant Louisville pass in the lane, Hansbrough tried the same shot and missed. The Cardinals scored eight unanswered points to tie the game at 66 with 2:47 to play.
Carleton Scott tied the game at 72 with 46 seconds left in regulation and Notre Dame had the final possession. But Hansbrough’s outside jumper missed.
Hansbrough’s three-pointer gave Notre Dame a 75-74 lead in overtime. But Louisville center Terrence Jennings (16 points, five rebounds) scored on a rebound, Abromaitis and Hansbrough missed, and Louisville guard Chris Smith hit two free throws to give the Cardinals an 81-77 lead with 18 seconds left.

>Suspected Tornado Hits Louisiana Town, 1 Killed

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A woman was killed and 11 others were hurt Saturday after a suspected tornado hit the southwestern Louisiana town of Rayne.

Acadia Parish sheriff’s spokeswoman Maxine Trahan said the 21-year-old woman died after a tree fell on her house.

Authorities say about 1,500 residents have been forced to leave their homes after natural gas leaks were reported. Trahan said the residents must stay away until at least Sunday.

At least 100 homes have been destroyed or damaged in a swath of destruction a quarter of a mile wide and three miles long.

“There are houses off their foundations,” State Police Trooper Stephen Hammons said.

Authorities said the 11 injuries were minor and that those people had been treated at area hospitals.

Meteorologist Donald Jones said the National Weather Service in Lake Charles was trying to determine if the high winds were a tornado. The destruction hit the Acadia Parish town of about 8,500 at around 10 a.m. as a line of violent thunderstorms moved through the area.

A storm system was moving across Louisiana, and Jones said it could make its way through Mississippi and Alabama in the next day or so.