Metea Valley struggles against Oswego East
As the Metea Valley girls basketball team continues searching for sparks, sophomore reserve Tess Thompson provided one Friday.
The varsity newcomer had 5 of her 7 points in the second quarter as the Mustangs tried to overcome a double-digit deficit before losing to powerful Oswego East 79-36 in the Naperville Central Tip Off Tournament's opening round of pool play at Benet.
"I really want to be a multi-position player, fast, getting back on defense, really being a defensive player and then contributing on offense as well, scoring around the basket," Thompson said. "All of these tall (teammates) give me more of an opportunity to play more positions and I really want to contribute in more than just post."
The Mustangs (0-2) trailed 19-6 after one quarter. They closed to within 10 points twice in the second quarter but failed to convert twice to close to single digits.
Thompson made a steal and bucket to bring the deficit to 25-15 and Skye Lane scored off a missed free throw to close to 27-17 2:05 before halftime.
The Wolves (2-0) scored the last seven points of the quarter - all by Sydney Schultz - and led 57-29 by the end of the third quarter.
"We've just got to continue to play for four quarters. I thought the first two quarters we played well. It went downhill from there," Metea coach Cedric Williams said.
"The first two quarters we had some energy behind us. We have to put it together right now and that's what we're searching for as a team. How are we going to put it together?"
Metea sophomore Ashley Konkle scored 13 points after netting 31 in Tuesday's 84-67 home loss to Plainfield East. Lane had 8 points.
Hoping to improve on Tuesday's 31 turnovers, Metea had 13 at the half but finished with 41, 25 of them Oswego East steals.
"I think we did a better job staying under control on defense but we still just need to be patient on offense with our passes because turnovers are our worst enemy," Thompson said.
Oswego East's Division I recruits led the way. Indiana State commit Ty Battle had 23 points. Schultz, who will play at Missouri State, had 15 points, all in the first half, and 5 of the team's 15 assists. Reserve Amaya Johns added 10 points and she and Jesinde Thomas had 5 steals.
The game brought the Wolves back to Benet, where they lost 68-60 in last season's Class 4A sectional final to the Redwings, who went on to win their second straight state title.
Four full- or part-time starters return from that 27-3 squad.
"Although we lost (in the sectional), we scored 29 points in the fourth quarter against the state champs," Oswego East coach Abe Carretto said. "I knew we could come here and the gym would be comfortable as far as putting the ball in the hoop."
Thompson spent last season getting her basketball footing back after tearing the ACL in her left knee in her final eighth-grade basketball game and undergoing surgery in April 2015. She began last basketball season on the freshman team before also playing with the sophomores.
"More towards the end of December was the turning point for me because it was just rough going through all of it," Thompson said. "I still need to improve on my strength. Overall, I feel I've improved a lot playing harder competition (on varsity) and it's really helped me practice with some of these girls pushing me."