Dundee-Crown falls to Prairie Ridge
Dundee-Crown was looking pretty good until the Chargers fell victim to an old nemesis: the second quarter.
Leading after one period, the Chargers were outscored 17-2 in the second and wound up falling to Prairie Ridge, 41-30, in Fox Valley Conference Valley Division girls basketball action in Carpentersville Tuesday night.
“Every game the second quarter has been our downfall,” said D-C coach Michelle Russell. “We come out and get leads in the first quarter, then in the second quarter we get lackadaisical a little bit. We’ve got to come out in the second quarter with a little more vengeance, and that’s been the season for us.”
The Chargers seemed to be in good shape to win their first game of the year, leading 8-2 after 5 minutes. But the Wolves went on a 23-2 run covering the end of the first and most of the second quarter.
The Wolves (7-3, 3-1) turned the tide with their full-court pressure.
“We started mixing up our defenses quite a bit,” said Prairie Ridge coach Rob Baker. “We started getting some different kids in there that were pressing well. Amanda Hoyland really caused some problems on the press trapping kids.”
Lauren Lococo led the Chargers with 9 points. Jillian Wiechmann added 8 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, and Stephanie Magsamen had 6 points for D-C (0-8, 0-4).
The Chargers have lost their last 4 games by a total of 22 points.
Marissa Gerstbrein led all scorers with 12 points for Prairie Ridge. Sarah LeBeau had 9, all on 3-pointers, and Alex Neckopoulos grabbed 16 rebounds for the Wolves.
Wiechmann had 4 points during D-C’s opening run. Prairie Ridge started its run at that point, but the Chargers still led 10-8 after one period.
The Wolves scored 4 quick points to start the second quarter, taking the lead for good on a putback by Neckopoulos. LeBeau hit a pair of 3-pointers during the run. Meanwhile, the Wolves’ pressure bothered the Chargers, forcing turnovers on 5 straight possessions at one point.
But the Chargers never let the visitors pull away. Wiechmann and Magsamen each scored 4 points in the third quarter to help keep it close. The Chargers got within 38-30 after Jordan Bartelt came up with a steal and fed Lococo for a layup, but they could get no closer. LeBeau’s final 3-pointer of the night provided the final margin.
Prairie Ridge did not make a free throw in the game, finishing 0-for-2 from the line. D-C had 15 attempts but made just 6.