Roback is back; Elk Grove wins

After missing the first two games for Elk Grove's girls basketball team, senior point guard Oliva Roback was back on the floor Saturday.

And her presence might just have been the difference in Elk Grove's 36-28 victory over Hoffman Estates in the second-round game of the Fenton-Elk Grove-Lake Park Thanksgiving tournament.

Roback suffered an injury in physical education class on Monday. She did not return to practice until Friday.

"We didn't know if she'd be able to go until we got confirmation from the trainer before the game," said Grenadiers coach Ryan Kirkorsky. "Without her, I don't know if we win.

"She's a senior point guard. She settles us down and knows the things we must do on the floor."

Roback played a key role down the stretch, getting some key assists (2), steals (4 for the game) and twice getting to the free throw line.

A free throw by Mary Pettit gave Hoffman a 25-23 lead with 7:03 left in the final quarter.

But for the rest of the quarter, the Grens would only give up a 3-pointer by Kelsey Lukowicz (11 points, three 3-pointers) with 33 seconds left.

Elk Grove (2-0 in the tourney) outscored Hoffman 13-4 in the final eight minuets to win its third straight game.

All-area standouts Ashley Capotosto (9 rebounds) and Courtney Lindfors (10 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals) each scored 10 points for the winners. Missy Regan added 5 while Kelly Naughton had 4, Maggie Fries 3 and Meaghan Amann 2.

"We just weren't running much and did a lot of standing around in the first half," Roback said. "Coach K gave us a good talk at half. He told us we had to step it up. He always gets us going."

Junior Jada Stotts (8 rebounds) and senior Megan Bernardoni (2 rebounds), the two all-area players for Hoffman (2-1), each added 7 points. Precious Ogunleye grabbed 5 rebounds while Lukowicz had 4.

"Hoffman is tough," Kirkorsky said. "They have two tough matchups (Stotts and Bernardoni), and No. 10 (Lukowicz) shot lights out."

Kirkorsky felt Regan and Fries did an excellent job handling the backcourt when Roback was not on the floor.

"Kelly Naughton hit some big shots for us," he added. "And obviously you could see where we needed Olivia. She made a couple of big plays down the stretch."

Hoffman Estates coach Mike Nocella felt Bernardoni played a big game facing Elk Grove's exceptional post players.

"She did a heck of a job in the middle," he said. "We actually beat them the last three quarters if you take out the final two minutes when we were scrambling.

"But don't get me wrong. They are a good team. I'm very proud of how my team played, especially on defense. We scrapped for the ball and never gave up.

"That's all I can ask. I thought Haley Worman (5-foot-11 sophomore forward) did a great job off the bench and Kelsey (Lukowicz) showed some great leadership."