Lancers looking good in UEC
A conference championship is not a done deal yet, but the smiles on the girls from Lake Park said it all.
Defense has the Lancers in the driver's seat.
Lake Park held St. Charles North scoreless for the first 6:28 of the fourth quarter to grind out a 47-41 win in a matchup of Upstate Eight leaders on Thursday in Roselle.
"The girls got real hungry, they beared down with defensive intensity and got stops when they needed to," Lancers coach Chris Fruehling said. "It was exciting to watch them play as hard as they did."
Lake Park (17-5, 7-0) has a one-game lead on St. Charles North (16-8, 7-1) in the loss column with league games left against East Aurora, St. Charles East and Neuqua Valley.
"It's great to have two big wins behind us, with St. Charles North and Waubonsie," said Lake Park's Samantha Arnold, who had 18 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks. "I think we're well on our way."
St. Charles North, playing its third game in as many nights, trailed 22-13 midway through the second quarter. But the North Stars took a 36-35 lead into the fourth behind the hot hand of Kiley Hackbarth, who had five 3-pointers and 18 points.
The North Stars wouldn't score again until Hackbarth's free throw with 1:32 left cut a Lake Park lead to 41-37. Alex Messacar's 3-pointer as time expired was the lone field goal of a quarter plagued by 8 turnovers.
"I don't know what it was, but our turnovers hurt us," Hackbarth said. "It's disappointing, but you look at the long term we still have regionals, sectionals and a chance at state."
The two teams combined for 8 turnovers and zero points over nearly the first half of the final quarter. After a Lake Park timeout Arnold rolled in a jumper from the top of the key to give her team the lead for good.
"We wanted to slow down and get a good look with our go-to player," Fruehling said. "I think that was the shot that turned it around."
Devin Johnston hit a baseline jumper with 2:22 left to make it 39-36, then knocked in a pair of free throws. In a physical game down low, Johnston and a tough Lancers interior defense held Michigan State recruit Kelsey Smith to 13 points and only one field goal.
"That was our game plan, to try to have Devin front her as much as we can. With me being on help side, we hoped they wouldn't throw it in," Arnold said. "Smith got her points, but she had to work for them."
Johnston had 12 points and 6 rebounds for Lake Park and Tori Clark 7 points. The Lancers held St. Charles North to 28.2 percent shooting.
"They did a nice job against us, inside and out," North Stars coach Katie Sauber said. "Sam Arnold only had 18 points, and that's one of the big things is you have to shut her down. On our end we just couldn't convert."