Cary-Grove's defense stifles CL South

Yes, Cary-Grove's high-powered offense has the capability to score in droves.

But it was the Trojans' stifling aggressive defense that keyed the Trojans' 55-42 win over Crystal Lake South in a Fox Valley Conference Valley Division girls basketball game at South's Gator Alley Tuesday night.

"We want to put a lot of pressure on offenses with our defense," said Cary-Grove coach Rod Saffert. "We did a good job of forcing South to take outside shots and we forced some turnovers with our press."

The Trojans (11-0, 2-0) put on a defensive clinic in the first half. South (4-7, 1-1), which committed 14 turnovers during the first 16 minutes, made only 5-of-24 shots in the first half for 20 percent.

The Trojans, who got 9 points from Claire Jakubicek, led 21-12 at intermission.

"We weren't ready to play and that's my fault," said Crystal Lake South coach Kyle McCaughn. "We have to learn to play four good quarters if we are going to play with the elite teams in the area. Cary-Grove's defense puts so much pressure on you. They come at you from so many angles and we didn't make very good decisions."

The Trojans won the game in the third quarter with a 10-0 run. Cary-Grove, with 4 points each from Claire and Olivia Jakubicek, turned an 8-point, 23-15 lead into a 33-15 advantage after a basket by Liz Bart with 3:18 left in the quarter.

But the Gators refused to go away without a fight. Trailing 44-26 late in the third quarter, South scored 12 unanswered points courtesy of pair of 3-pointers from Michelle Gaede and 2 layups from Jenny Hanrahan. With 5:12 left in the game, the Gators were within 6 points of the Trojans at 44-38.

The Gators got to within 5 of Cary-Grove, 47-42, on a pair of free throws by Gaede with 2:12 left but those were the last points South would score.

Cary-Grove scored the final 8 points of the game, 4 each from Meg Straumann and Olivia Jakubicek.

Olivia and Claire Jakubicek scored 14 each for the Trojans while Bart scored 11.

"We did a good job of relaxing and staying calm at the end when South made a run at us," said Bart. "Our defensive pressure was good tonight and we were getting easy baskets."

Hanrahan led the Gators with 14 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out with 3:22 left. Gaede scored 13 with three 3-pointers.