Arnold scores 42 as Lake Park beats Saints in overtime
Samantha Arnold's historic performance carried Lake Park for four quarters.
Her friends pitched in in overtime.
Arnold scored 41 of her career-high 42 points in regulation, and her Lancers teammates stepped up to hit 11 free throws in overtime of Friday's 60-50 win at St. Charles East.
"I came out on fire. I guess you keep shooting until you're off," Arnold said. "That's probably one of the best shooting nights I've ever had. I've had games where I've had 4 or 5 (3-pointers) but never where I could keep going like that."
Arnold's point total topped her previous career-best of 36 set against Streamwood last season. It also eclipsed Kelly Miller's school record of 40 set during the 1990-91 season. Arnold broke Miller's career scoring record earlier this season.
"I've coached 17 years, I've seen some good basketball in my day," Lake Park coach Chris Fruehling said, "and I've never seen anybody that hot. It was exciting to watch."
Even by Arnold's brilliant standards, the shooting display left you shaking your head. She hit her first 5 shots, 3 of them 3-pointers, en route to 18 first-quarter points. For the night she shot 15 of 21 from the field, 9 of 12 from 3-point range. Few were without St. Charles East defenders right on her.
"I told the girls, 'She can't make these shots every time throughout the whole game,' St. Charles East coach Lori Drumtra said, "and then I said to them afterward, 'Well, OK, maybe she can.'"
Arnold scored all of Lake Park's 11 points in the fourth quarter - and the Lancers needed them against the surging Saints on senior night.
St. Charles East (13-11, 5-4 Upstate Eight Conference), which trailed by 9 in the first quarter and 28-21 at the half, charged back to within a point twice in the fourth quarter. Trailing 48-45 in the last minute of regulation, the Saints got their shot at overtime when Arnold was called for an offensive foul.
A harried final Saints possession struck gold as Kara Schnier swished a 3-pointer from the top of the key to force overtime. Schnier had 12 points, Lexi Baltes 14 and Natasha Lalos 11 for St. Charles East.
"To be down and to come back and tie it up at the end and force overtime," Drumtra said, "I told the girls I'll take that kind of effort any day, win or lose."
Lake Park never trailed in the extra period, Tori Clark knocking down 7 of 9 free throws and Carly Willert a pair. Devin Johnston, Jenna Aloia - and yes, Arnold, each hit 1 free throw. The Lancers (21-5, 8-0) left the gym with their one-game lead on St. Charles North in the Upstate Eight intact with two games to play. Barely.
"We dodged a big one tonight," Fruehling said. "St. Charles East, on senior night, was ready to rock and roll tonight. We dodged a huge bullet."