St. Viator handles Northside Prep
With a 10-3 record coming into the game, Northside Prep was hardly taken lightly by St. Viator’s girls basketball team Wednesday night.
The Lions (6-7) knew they needed a big effort in their second-round game of the Snowflake Classic.
They sure got one from junior Katie Gavin, among others.
Gavin, a 5-foot-7 guard from St. Mary School in Buffalo Grove, tossed home career-high 22 points, including a steal and 3-point play which ignited a 12-0 run to start the game.
The Lions never looked back in a 48-28 triumph over the Mustangs.
“My teammates really gave me the opportunities for open shots,” said Gavin, who connected on 9-of-11 free throws and tossed home a 3-pointer. “I’m so proud of every one of them.”
“It was a great game by Katie,” said Lions coach Paul Bjerkness, whose team is -2-0 in the Snowflake. “She was awesome. And Kim McAvoy had a very good defensive effort on (Becky) Duffy (who averages 11 points).
“We played real well as a team. We shared the ball and we were patient with it.”
Junior guard Katie Calmeyn hit two outside jumpers during the Lions’ early 12-0 run which also included buckets from Julia Frank and Lauren Rooney.
The Mustangs didn’t get on the board until senior Lexi Jones made 2 free throws with 1:42 left in the first quarter.
“When you don’t play with heart, this is what happens,” said Northside Prep coach Mike Heavey. “This is a team game and when you don’t play as a team, you lose by 20 points.”
Senior Megan Bailey added 7 points and while Calmeyn and Rooney each had 6 for the winners.
“Getting the early lead always helps,” said Rooney, who pulled down 13 rebounds. “When we don’t start out well, we seem to get down. And Katie Gavin really helped. She stepped up with a lot of big plays.”
Northside Prep never got closer than 12-6 which came on a bucket by junior Lauren Antosz with 5:50 left in the second quarter.
The Lions answered with an 8-3 run, and led 22-11 at the break thanks to a pair of free throws by Gavin with 54 seconds left.
“They came out strong right at the start but then we really stepped up,” Gavin added. “We penetrated their defense so we could get more shots.”
McAvoy was able to limit Duffy to 2 baskets and 2 free throws for 6 points.
“I love playing defense,” she said. “It gets me motivated. You’re always into the game. It makes you want to work harder. I think defense is the most important part of the game, and of course, scoring baskets.”
The Mustangs did not have anyone score more than 2 baskets. Jones led the team with 8 points.
Bjerkness also praised the play of Calmeyn and Bailey.
“Katie did a nice job settling us down and Megan did a nice job at both ends of the floor,” he said.
Guerin Prep 51, Leyden 44: Senior Tashemia McKinney led the Eagles (0-2 in the tourney) with 12 points while senior Moira Quinlan added 10.