Bartlett makes it look easy
Scouting the Bartlett girls basketball team is becoming more of a chore for opposing coaches as the season goes on.
Sure, stopping any combination of the Hawks' four 6-foot starters in the paint is on the top of the Christmas wish list for any team that faces Bartlett.
But over the past couple of weeks, the Hawks have found a new weapon, and she's one of the smallest players on the floor.
Five-foot-six junior point guard Janessa Baker made three 3-pointers and scored 12 points Saturday, opening up the potent Bartlett offense even more than it usually is, and the Hawks dismantled West Chicago 72-46 in a nonconference game at Bartlett.
“The last three games she's come out shooting and making them spreads out our offense,” said Bartlett senior Jacki Gulczynski of Baker. “It gives us more threats on the floor.”
Baker says she doesn't go into games looking to score but if the opportunity is there she won't say no either.
“I don't think that way at the beginning a game,” Baker said. “But if it's open I'll take my shot. It opens things up a lot and gives the posts room to work.”
Gulczynski scored 17 points and had 11 rebounds to lead the Hawks (12-0), who are now off until Dec. 27 when they face Maine West in the opening round of the Dundee-Crown tournament. Kristin Conniff added 16 points, while Lisa Palmer and Taylor Buliox each had strong games off the bench with 7 points apiece.
“One of the biggest things we harped on in practice this week is being a little more patient,” said Bartlett coach Denise Sarna. “We took a step in the right direction with that today and that's why we had better looks.”
West Chicago (9-2) opened the game in a zone defense, which Bartlett countered by knocking down 15 of 28 shots in the first half, racing out to a 44-25 lead at intermission. Gulczynski nailed two 3-pointers in the first quarter and Conniff one, then Baker hit all three of hers in the second quarter. The Wildcats never got closer than 15 in the second half.
“Palatine zoned us and I think more teams might question our outside shooting,” said Sarna. “But I'm confident in our outside shooting. We have good outside shooters. We knocked down some big shots today.”
Mary Connolly had 18 points and Meagan Radloff 10 for West Chicago, which was just 16 of 58 shooting.
“We never really got it going,” said Wildcats coach Kim Wallner. “We tried the zone because we don't match up with their size but they came out extremely hot and hit some shots. But we had some open shots and if we could have made some early it might have been different. They're a good team and we just didn't match up.”