West Chicago turns up pressure to claim win
There is nothing like some hard-nosed defense to help a team overcome its first-game jitters. That's exactly what West Chicago did in its girls basketball season opener against Nazareth on Tuesday.
After falling behind to the Roadrunners in the first quarter, the Wildcats turned up the pressure late in that opening session and continued that for most of the second quarter. They forced turnovers, which led to quick points, and Nazareth got into foul trouble as well. West Chicago would surge to a lead it would never lose and went on to capture a 54-43 nonconference victory over the host Roadrunners in LaGrange Park.
"We had stepped it up on defense and got our nerves out," said West Chicago senior forward Jessica Baids, who led the team with 13 points. "We knew what we needed to do to get back in the game."
The Roadrunners (0-1), who were also playing their first game of the season, raced out to a quick 13-6 lead with 2:41 to play in the opening quarter. Baids got it going in the post and started the run with back-to-back buckets. The Wildcats also made their presence known defensively by getting in the passing lanes.
Other West Chicago (1-0) players such as guards Allie Tapanes and Claire Monroe helped the cause with 3-pointers. Baids powered home another inside bucket and made 3 free throws after getting fouled on moves to the hoop. Guard Liz Reyes also sank a nice perimeter jumper. When the smoke cleared, a 23-5 run by West Chicago gave the visitors a 29-18 lead with 1:36 left before halftime.
Nazareth starters Nora Masterson, Rachel Stec and Jane Schiffler got their third fouls during this quarter and had to sit.
"Having three starters out hurt us," said Nazareth coach Charlie Rohlf. "We were playing with lineups we had never even practiced with. West Chicago did a nice job pressuring those lineups. That was the difference in the game."
"We were nervous and put together a nice 8-10-minute stretch," said West Chicago coach Kim Wallner of the team's surge. "Our defensive pressure got them out of their offense."
The Roadrunners fought back in the second half. They were within 37-32 early in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats, though, countered with a 9-0 run on great back door play by center Mary Connolly to guard Izzy Bruce, a 3-pointer by Monroe, an offensive board putback by Bruce and a shot by Katie Staiton.
"We like to be a patient offense," said Monroe, who scored 10 points. "We look for the overplay and look to pound it inside."
Wallner singled out the defensive play by Bruce on Nazareth's Schiffler. Schiffler scored a team-high 12 points, she tallied 18 points when the teams played last year.