Panthers breeze past Rams in 4th
No one saw this coming.
After Glebard East's Kelsey Taylor split a pair of free throws midway through the fourth quarter, the Rams and host Glenbard North were tied 33-33. Not only did it look like this DuPage Valley Conference girls basketball game would go down to the wire, but the visiting Rams had to be liking their chances for a third win over their rivals this season.
Instead Glenbard North (9-16, 6-6) scored the next 12 points before eventually closing out the game in dominating fashion. A 19-2 close over the final four minutes of play gave the Panthers a 52-35 victory.
Amoni Reynolds, who was a perfect 10 of 10 from the line in the game, went 6 of 6 in the fourth quarter as the Panthers tallied 27 points - two more than they had in the previous three quarters combined.
"We came together as a team and played good defense," said Reynolds, who led all scorers with 21 points, including a 3-pointer in the second quarter. "We wanted to come out and take it to them tonight since they had beaten us the first two games."
Aside from the critical final half quarter, Thursday's game was tight throughout with the teams repeatedly exchanging leads. Glenbard North jumped ahead 8-3 only to have Glenbard East take a 9-8 lead following back-to-back driving baskets by guard Kelsey Taylor, who finished with 14 points and 3 steals for the Rams (15-9, 6-5).
But Reynolds scored 11 points in the second quarter as Glenbard North took a 21-19 lead at the intermission. A low-scoring third quarter ended with Glenbard East on top 26-25, and the Rams went ahead 28-25 early in the fourth following a pair of Taylor free throws. But Monica Noti dropped in the first of two clutch 3s to give the Panthers a 29-28 lead with 6:28 left to play.
Noti's second 3-pointer came from way beyond the arc and lifted the hosts to a 38-33 lead with 31/2 minutes left to play. From there the Panthers were boosted by 11-of-14 foul shooting in the quarter, and the Rams were hurt by 5 turnovers.
"We lost our composure and got a little rattled," Rams coach Nicole Miler said. "Glenbard North executed at the end. They stepped up."
Glenbard North coach John Chamberlain said his players were smart down the stretch, but just as importantly, they didn't give their opponent second chances on offense.
"The girls just made great decisions in the fourth quarter," he said. "But it seemed like we really got a notion to block out. They'd miss a shot and we didn't give them another chance."