Lake Zurich wraps up NSC Lake title outright

Lake Zurich's girls basketball team had two reasons to celebrate.

First, the Bears clinched the North Suburban Conference Lake Division championship outright with a 48-30 victory over visiting Stevenson on Friday.

It was also Senior Night, as six players were honored before the game.

Lake Zurich (24-5, 10-2) will host the winner of the Round Lake-Wauconda game tonight in the NSC championship game at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

It was the first time that Lake Zurich won the NSC Lake since joining the conference. The Bears won the Fox Valley Conference title in 2004.

After leading 23-13 at half-time, Lake Zurich blew the game open with a 14-2 third quarter.

The seniors honored were Lydia Bauer, Olivia Allen, Theo Papastratakos, Coryn Schmit, Amanda Wright and Ashley Wright.

"We have six players who have been incredibly dedicated to our program for a long time," coach Chris Bennett said."Most of them started with the sixth grade Junior Bears and have been playing in the program for seven years."

It was also Bennett's first division title as a coach.

"I didn't get any minutes," he said. "I kept trying to substitute myself in the game, but (the girls) wouldn't let me in the game."

Four-year varsity starter Bauer finished with 16 points.

"You couldn't have asked for a better senior night," she said. "We did a real great job in the first quarter with our transitions and we played a real great game.

"It's been a long four years," Bauer added. "My freshman year we struggled, sophomore year we turned it around in the playoffs, and I think from there on, we carried on from year to year."

Allen led all scorers with 18 points.

"It was nice to have all of the people there for us tonight," Allen said. "We did a good job both on offense and defense and rebounds."

Junior Audrey Bauer added 11 points for the Bears.

"The younger kids will step up next year," she said. "We have some big shoes to fill, but I think we will be OK."

Michelle O'Brien led Stevenson (10-16, 3-9) with 7 points. Jamie Finkle and Kelsey Simon added 5, as the Patriots dropped their sixth in a row.

"I thought we had opportunities early in the first quarter and then early in the second quarter," coach Trish Betthauser said.

"I think we are doing things the right way. I thought we defended OK, but we missed some buckets and that changed the game a little bit."

Antioch 45, North Chicago 37: Lindsey Gofron had 15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals for the host Sequoits (11-12, 5-6), who wrap up North Suburban Prairie play with a home game against Lakes today.

Allie Anttila and Katrina Holm added 11 and 9 points, respectively.

Katie Budd grabbed 7 rebounds.