Kaneland rallies, then goes cold in overtime
Like a lot of schools in this area can relate to, Morris girls basketball coach Luke Windy had to prepare for his team to play in their third conference in four seasons this year.
That meant some more new schools on the schedule. One of those is Kaneland, a school he had not seen in 10 years since his first year of coaching when the teams were also in the same conference before another round of changes hit.
So what did Windy know about the Knights?
“I didn't know much but their record, I knew they had five wins (last year),” Windy said. “But I knew they were young and had a lot of injuries. They are a talented bunch and I think next year they are really going to be tough.”
Nobody likes to hear wait til next year, yet the Knights did show more signs of progress Tuesday in their second close loss this season to Morris, this one 45-38 in overtime in Maple Park.
Kaneland (10-13, 1-6) came from behind in the fourth quarter to force overtime, tying the game at 36 on Kelly Evers' left-handed hook in the lane with 1:36 left. The Knights pressured Morris (14-7, 4-2) into a turnover and had a chance to win in regulation but misfired on an 18-footer from the baseline with a second left.
Senior guard Layney Miller scored the first two baskets for Morris in overtime while Kaneland turned it over on its first two possessions, digging the Knights a hole they couldn't escape.
“We were kind of helter-skelter at times (offensively),” Kaneland coach Ernie Colombe said. “We were happy with the way we battled back and tied it up. We had momentum but couldn't close the door.”
In an earlier 54-48 loss to Morris, Miller and Alex Granger combined for 41 of the 54 points. Those two were a thorn in Kaneland's side again with 35 of the 45 points.
“They hurt us,” Colombe said. “I don't think they were easy points but they definitely hurt us.”
The duo scored all 10 of Morris' points in the first quarter, which ended in a 10-10 tie. Kaneland freshman Marina Schaefer forged the tie with a putback bucket.
The Knights made just 2 of 10 shots in the second quarter to fall behind 17-15 at halftime.
Senior Andie Strang sparked Kaneland with 3 quick steals defensively and 3 equally quick baskets on the other end to give Kaneland a 21-19 lead just two minutes into the third quarter.
Strang followed moments later with a 3-pointer from the top of the key for Kaneland's biggest lead of the game, 27-22. She finished with a team-high 13 points, 8 rebounds and 6 steals while fellow senior Emily Heimerdinger chipped in 9 points and 3 steals.
“Rebounding, getting steals, hitting shots, playing good defense, she (Strang) had a great game today,” said Colombe who made a point to put more on his seniors' shoulders.
“We stuck with the seniors tonight. We didn't sub as much as we normally do. We're happy with our young kids the way they have been playing but we have been pushing for our seniors to step up in the stretch run. I thought she (Strang) and Emily did. That's what we expect. They are great kids and work hard every day in practice.”
The Knights went cold after Strang's 3-pointer and didn't score again in the third quarter. Morris tallied the final 9 points to go ahead 31-27 after three.
Trailing 35-30 midway through the final quarter, Kaneland forced overtime with baskets by Alderman, Strang and Evers. But the Knights couldn't capitalize on the sixth Morris turnover in the final quarter that gave Kaneland a chance to win at the buzzer.
“We wanted to take the last shot,” Colombe said. “They (Morris) made an adjustment and took us away from the shot we wanted at the end.”
Evers (7 rebounds), Emma Bradford (5) and Schaefer (5) were all active on the boards yet Kaneland was still outrebounded 44-36. Neither team shot well at the free-throw line. Morris made 11 of 25 while the Knights went 4 of 13.
“A game that goes into overtime you can't shoot 4 out of 13 at the free-throw line,” Colombe said. “We had a lot of opportunities tonight.”
Morris trails DeKalb (6-0) and Rochelle (4-1) in the first year of the Northern Illinois Big 12 East.
“I told the girls it was a second opportunity to finish it off (in overtime),” Windy said after his team's turnovers late in the fourth quarter. “The girls executed down the stretch in overtime which was huge for us. (Miller) is our go-to girl. When she's aggressive and takes the ball to the basket it's tough to guard her.”