Lisle grows up, wins in overtime

It wasn't a pretty offensive night for the Lisle girls basketball team, but according to Lions head coach Jeff Javior, it never really is.

Lisle shot just 33 percent from the floor and 61 percent from the free-throw line Thursday night against Reed-Custer, yet it still managed to pull out a 49-41 overtime victory on senior night in Lisle.

The Lions (10-16, 6-5 Interstate Eight Conference) can thank a strong defense for Thursday's victory. The home team held Reed-Custer to just 2 field goals in the fourth quarter and overtime combined, compared to the 54 percent mark for the Lions across the same two periods.

"We pride ourselves on defense. We're not a strong offensive team, but the kids play extremely hard defensively," Javior said. "I don't care if it's the starting five, or nine or 10, they're going to play tough defense.

"They help each other out well, and they make very few mistakes."

Two straight Chelsea Peterson putbacks gave Lisle a 38-36 lead with 56 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Reed-Custer's Katie Kochan drew a foul on a scramble for a rebound with three seconds left, hitting both free throws to send the game into overtime.

Lisle finished off the Comets at the free-throw line, sinking 9 of its 12 attempts in the extra period to secure the eight-point victory.

"I think we were just motivated a lot," Peterson said. "It was our senior night, and we really wanted to win."

Junior guard Jackie Todd, who led all scorers with 14 points, echoed Peterson's thoughts.

"We just wanted to win for our seniors because it was their last game," Todd said. "We all picked it up and decided that we're going to do it."

Lisle's defense lapsed significantly in the second quarter, allowing the Comets (15-10, 7-4) to score 19 points and grab a 24-19 halftime advantage. Reed-Custer's inability to sustain its offensive success baffled coach Matt Peterson all through the second half.

"Honestly, I don't know. It's senior night, and they probably got a little momentum - so it's natural to come out a little bit flat I would think," Peterson said, "but we just can't let that happen game in and game out."

Javior praised his seniors' work ethic after the game, citing how far they've grown as a team.

"That was my last statement to them in (the locker room)," he said. "We were babies at the beginning of the year, and now we're grownups."