Warren earns high five in NSC title game
Warren coach John Stanczykiewicz just knew the Blue Devils' girls basketball team would be ready for Saturday night's North Suburban Conference championship game at Grant.
"We talked in practice about their legacy," he said of his players. "We make a big deal about what each class puts on the wall. They were as focused as I've seen them in awhile."
The Blue Devils used fierce defense and efficient offense to post a commanding 54-38 victory. This was the fifth consecutive NSC title for Warren, with the last four coming over Grant.
Grant senior Jamie Swanson hit a 3-pointer on her team's first trip down the floor, but the Bulldogs did not make another field goal until the 6:10 mark of the second quarter. Warren led by 22 points heading into the final eight minutes. The Blue Devils grabbed 12 more rebounds than Grant.
"We scored 16 points in the first three quarters," Grant coach Tom Oeffling said. "Was it their defense? Absolutely. We had very few second-chance shots."
Warren senior center Sarah Boothe said the Blue Devils' defensive intensity never wavered.
"They were getting frustrated," Boothe said. "We want to keep playing the same type of defense."
Swanson finished with a game-high 21 points, but 14 came in the fourth quarter.
"We need someone to step up and hit shots besides Jamie Swanson," Oeffling said.
Warren senior Lory Shaw drew the assignment of guarding Swanson. Shaw's 4-inch height advantage helped, but just as important was Shaw's ability to move her feet laterally.
"Lory did a tremendous job of making Swanson work for everything," Stanczykiewicz said. "She's met the challenge every game."
Shaw finished with a game-high 12 rebounds. She scored 15 points and was 9 of 14 from the free-throw line.
"I look forward to guarding the other team's best player," she said.
Boothe contributed 17 points and 9 rebounds. Senior guard Shana Shepherd knocked down three 3-pointers (10 points). Junior point guard Joree Green played excellent defense and scored three baskets on fast-break layups.
Warren (25-2) and Grant (24-4) navigated through Lake Division and Prairie Division play, respectively, without a loss.
The Bulldogs, who usually enjoy a size and height advantage, were neutralized in the paint. It didn't help that senior forward Autumn Gaylor took an elbow to the nose early in the first quarter. She also took a shot to the face in the third quarter and had to leave the game for good.
"We had no answer for their bigs," Oeffling said.
Grant played its best basketball in the final eight minutes, but was never able to get its deficit into single digits.
"We played like we were in dire straits in the fourth quarters," Oeffling said. "We need to play like that all the time."