Antioch puts the hurt on North Chicago
Antioch's girls walked into North Chicago's gym with a new player on crutches. And when Amy Reiser joined two injured teammates on the bench late in the opening quarter with 3 personal fouls and the Sequoits trailing, it looked like an unlucky 13-game winning streak the visitors toted.
In the end, however, Antioch went home still in great shape, atop the North Suburban Conference Prairie Division. Ashley Reiser's game-high 19 points led the way in a 55-50 win Wednesday night.
"We started off slow, that's for sure," Ashley Reiser said. "But after we put that behind us, we just went out there and played our game, and didn't let (North Chicago) get into our head. We stayed in the game, mentally and physically."
Good luck to any other team in the division catching the Sequoits (17-2, 7-0), who seek their first outright NSC Prairie championship after sharing the title with Vernon Hills last season.
In getting past North Chicago (15-6, 5-2) for the second time this season, Antioch overcame 31 turnovers and 17-of-29 shooting (59 percent) from the foul line.
"During our winning streak, we've been shooting free throws at a 70-, 75-percent clip," coach Tim Borries said after his Sequoits won their 14th straight. "If you want to keep those winning streaks, you got to make free throws and rebound."
Borries and both Reisers attributed nerves as a reason for the team's sluggish start. Antioch was without key reserve Erika Gallimore, who sprained her ankle against Lakes last Saturday night, and starting guard Alexis Duehr, who missed her eighth straight game with a fractured tibia.
North Chicago bolted to a 10-0 lead, before back-to-back laypus by 6-foot Carly McCameron (6 points, 13 rebounds) in the final minute of the first quarter got the Sequoits within 14-8.
Despite Amy Reiser sitting the entire second quarter, Antioch pulled even at 26-26 by halftime, thanks largely to 3-pointers by Kelly Johnson (5 points, 5 rebounds), Shannon Zogran (8 points) and Ashley Reiser.
Amy Reiser then opened the second-half scoring with a 3-pointer. Her 6 points in the third quarter helped put the Sequoits in front 41-36 entering the fourth. The 5-7 sophomore then started the fourth like she started the third - with a 3.
"I knew I had to pick it up and play smart," said Amy Reiser, who scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half and also grabbed 7 rebounds before fouling out late in the game. "I just wanted to get my team going."
The Warhawks erased the eight-point deficit, however, with Tiara Garrett (6 points, 10 rebounds) sinking a 3-pointer that evened the score at 48-48 with 2:48 left.
Antioch then got the ball to Ashley Reiser, and she more than made up for her first half, when Borries said she struggled. After splitting a pair of free throws with 1:04 on the clock to snap the 48-48 tie, she made 6 of 6 free throws the rest of the way out.
"I like the pressure," Ashley Reiser, who went 10 of 11 from the line, said with a smile. "It's fun."
"Down the stretch, she was Miss Clutch," Borries said of his sophomore point guard. "She stepped up. You can't say enough about that."
Borries used only six players. Junior Madalyn Murillo (3 rebounds) came off the bench to provide a post presence after Amy Reiser went to the bench.
"We just had to catch our breath that second half," Borries said. "We were waiting to get our second wind. Everybody was huffing and puffing. We caught it, and then all of a sudden everybody just relaxed."
Zyaire Strowder-Butler led North Chicago with 18 points and 9 rebounds. T.T. Maggett added 11 points and 8 steals, and Kylah Collins scored 10 points for the Warhawks.
"The first time we played them, they came out strong and hard," Amy Reiser said. "So we knew we had to be ready for them this time."