Wildcats put finishing touches on NSC Lake title

Libertyville staff member Greg Loika popped on the PA system during the Wildcats’ girls basketball game against visiting Warren and announced a halftime football score.

Loika reported the Bears led the Packers.

Funny, since every resident of Illinois and Wisconsin knows the Bears and Packers play today in the NFC championship game.

The jokester Loika smiled. Delayed laughs followed from the large audience.

What the heck, it’s championship weekend all right.

With a 38-26 win over Warren, Libertyville’s girls clinched their second straight North Suburban Lake Division title. Libertyville (21-0, 10-0) will host the NSC championship game on Wednesday, Feb. 9.

“It took a lot of work to get there,” said Libertyville senior Olivia Wilcox, who scored 9 points, including a 3-pointer. “I think people overlooked us this year, but we proved ourselves.”

Wildcats coach Kathie Swanson couldn’t have been prouder of her team, which got a game-high 12 points, including a pair of 3s, from senior guard Savannah Trees.

“This is a very quality division,” Swanson said. “To be able to (win it) two years in a row is a huge testament to the focus and hard work of our senior group in particular.”

Those seniors include starting forward Kaca Savatic, who missed her first game of the season Saturday. Swanson explained that Savatic complained of soreness in her surgically repaired knee following Thursday’s win over Glenbrook South.

“We need her for the stretch run,” Swanson. “There was no sense, if (the knee) was causing her any discomfort, to force her in this game.”

Savatic sat on the bench in full uniform, cheering on her teammates.

“She probably could have played if we needed her to play,” Swanson said.

Junior Molly Moon started in Savatic’s spot and contributed 5 points, sinking 1 of her 2 shots and 3 of her 4 free throws. Moon also had 2 assists in her most playing time of the season.

“I thought Molly did a really nice job,” Swanson said. “She played well. She made smart decisions, and she actually looked to attack the basket when I thought teammates should attack the basket.”

Valerie Van Roeyen added 7 points, all in the second quarter when the Wildcats took charge by outscoring the Blue Devils 16-8. Alex Haley dished out 5 assists, and Kerry Risley contributed 4 rebounds and 2 assists.

“It was tough (playing without Savatic),” Wilcox said. “But other people had the opportunity to step up, and I thought we covered that well.”

Warren (10-11, 2-6) was led by Alyssa Phillips’ 8 points and 7 rebounds and Jessica Prince’s 8 points.

Libertyville held Warren guard Lexi Leneau (0-of-8 shooting) scoreless. Trees defended Leneau “with some help,” Swanson said.

Leneau was coming off a 19-point effort against Mundelein.

“I’d love to have her on my team,” Swanson said. “She’s a hard worker.”

Warren shot just 23 percent (10 of 44) and saw both Leneau and Amanda Barger get banged up.

Leneau banged her right kneecap on the court late in the game, after contact with a player, and did not return.

“I’m proud of my kids,” Warren coach John Stanczykiewicz said. “We came in here ready for a brawl, and I think my kids gave (Libertyville) everything they could handle. The problem was, we missed too many layups.”

Warren held Libertyville (13 of 30 shooting, 43 percent) to just 14 second-half points.

“I guess that’s what makes Libertyville so good right now,” Stanczykiewicz said. “They’re ready to play any style. They’ll run up and down the floor with you, and they’ll stand and go toe-to-toe with you. They’re not overly big, but they play bigger than their size. They got good shooters, and they never seem to get rattled.”