Lexi Kerstein started this, and she isn’t finished. Behind the Vermont recruit, Deerfield takes the next step.

Deerfield’s Lexi Kerstein looked into the future following the final game of her freshman season three years ago.

Back then, Kerstein was one of two freshman starters, along with forward Olivia Kerndt, for a program that broke new ground by reaching the Class 3A sectional semifinals. Led by the high-scoring Kerstein, the Warriors won the program’s first regional title since 2007.

But Kerstein had bigger goals for the remainder of her career.

“I was thinking after that loss to Grayslake Central that we’re going to make something out of this program and it’s going to be amazing,” Kerstein said. “I knew we were going to be special.”

Behind the Vermont recruit, Deerfield has become that kind of team.

Kerstein scored seven of her 17 points in the first quarter on Thursday as the second-seeded Warriors led wire to wire in a 49-39 win against top-seeded Carmel, the defending 3A state champion, in the Deerfield Sectional final.

Kerstein’s younger sister Nikki added 15 points and six rebounds for Deerfield (28-5), which won its first sectional title and will play Montini in the Dundee-Crown Supersectional at 7 p.m. Monday. Aubrey Galvan contributed 13 points and six steals against the Corsairs (24-9).

The 5-foot-5 Kerstein said she has been motivated throughout her career by playing the underdog role.

“I’ve worked my butt off in the gym all the time to get me to where I’m at today,” she said. “A lot of people think I’m just a shooter. But I’m a scorer and can get to the basket and have a pretty good mid-game, and it helps me to score on all three levels and to have great teammates I can trust.”

Deerfield second-year coach Nicole Keith said Kerstein is taking fewer shots and doesn’t feel the burden of carrying the offense with her sister and Galvan on the floor.

Kerstein started the sectional final on fire, but when the Corsairs chopped the Warriors’ lead to 35-32 early in the fourth quarter, she didn’t force any shots. She scored four pivotal points in a two-minute stretch to push the lead to 46-37, while Galvan hit a 3-pointer and made three late free throws.

“Lexi is one of our captains, and she kept telling the girls to keep their composure,” Keith said. “Lexi stepped up. She’s more mature and has grown as a person and in her game. She understands game situations better and isn’t forcing, which is a big difference.

“She’s looking around. She has a core of girls she can play with. That changed everything for her.”

Senior guard/forward Jordan Wood, Carmel’s all-time leading scorer, ended her high school career with an inspired performance that nearly led her team back from a 14-point deficit in the third quarter. The Michigan State recruit had 19 points, 19 rebounds and three assists. She credited the Warriors for pushing the pace and showing resiliency after nearly losing their big lead.

Nikki Kerstein, who is taller than her sister, said she watched Lexi Kerstein handle intense pressure while leading the Warriors early in her career and said she remains their engine.

“During the whole summer, Lexi was working hard because she’s small and always doubted, and she was talking to a lot of schools for college,” Nikki said. “She was motivated to get better, doing all-around things, not just scoring. She knows she has help now, and she has become a great leader guiding our team.”

Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.