Waubonsie Valley edges Elk Grove
Waubonsie Valley will take a winning record into the winners' bracket of the Bill Neibch Falcon Classic at Wheaton North.
Those aren't words Warriors senior Gina Palasz has seen before in her four years in the Waubonsie Valley girls basketball program, making Tuesday's 30-29 opening-round upset of eighth-seeded Elk Grove a little extra special.
"In the last three years it's been a rough one so just coming back and leading the team as a senior feels really good," Palasz said.
The Warriors' reward is a second-round game Wednesday against tournament host, defending champion and top seed Wheaton North, which rolled to a 67-14 victory against Willowbrook. Not that Waubonsie Valley was ready to look ahead just yet.
"It means a lot," said first-year Warriors coach Brett Love. "We talked about people underestimating us, not thinking that we can make change and do things. We really wanted to come out and prove something. At the same time that was probably one of our worst games, at least scoring-wise. Missing layups, missing jump shots and things like that."
The Warriors (7-6) won despite making just 10 of 49 shots.
"It was definitely a rough one because our shots weren't falling so we had to go off of our strengths and not fall on our weaknesses, but it feels good," Palasz said.
Freshman Lauren McKnight led the Warriors with 10 points, including 3 first-quarter 3-pointers.
"It was frustrating because our key shooters, Lauren, just everyone, they weren't falling," Palasz said. "Once we started getting in our rhythm it got better."
Elk Grove struggled to shoot also, making 11 of 46 and committing 26 turnovers.
"A classic case of coming off a break and looking a little lethargic from start to finish," Elk Grove coach Jennifer Buxton said. "But both sides are in the same situation. It's hard when you're not making shots or not even taking a lot of shot opportunities as well. One of our big goals was to take care of the ball, and we didn't do that."
Elk Grove (7-8) led 15-11 at halftime, but Waubonsie Valley took a 24-18 lead to start the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer by freshman Mykah Berkompas.
Elk Grove went on a 6-0 run to tie the game on a steal and layup by Isabella Tierney, but the Grenadiers couldn't sustain that momentum.
"I felt like the girls started to turn a corner there, but again, some of our youth. We get a little nervous at times with that," Buxton said.
A Grace Setter basket gave Waubonsie Valley the lead again for good, and Iwiyisis Osaghae's basket made the score 28-24. Elk Grove pulled within a point on a Zoe Blomquist 3-pointer, but Warriors sophomore Ahniya Melton scored with 47 seconds to play to make it a three-point margin.
Rachel Kandefer scored at the buzzer for Elk Grove.