Seniors lift St. Viator in double overtime
In their four-year varsity girls basketball careers, St. Viator co-captains Susan Hohenadel and Mary Calov probably never worked as hard for a win as they did Tuesday night in the Cahill Gymnasium.
Neither veteran could recall winning a game in double overtime, as was the case with the dramatic 51-46 triumph over a pesky Providence Catholic squad from New Lenox.
The veterans both hit a pair of free throws in the final 35.7 seconds of the second extra session and classmate Bridget Urbanus added one as the Lions improved to 14-6 and 4-1 in the ESCC.
"Coach (Paul Bjerkness) had two goals for us this game," said Calov, who scored 8 points with 4 rebounds. "He wanted us to get every loose ball and to play with heart. I think we accomplished both."
The Lions played with plenty of heart in the second overtime as senior Meghan Malone (9 points, a 3-pointer, 2 rebounds, 2 assists) got things rolling with a momentum-changing steal and layup at the 3:45 mark.
Urbanus (8 points) then came up with her second steal in a minute (the other with 37 seconds left in the first overtime) and it led to a free throw by Hohenadel for a 41-37 lead.
The Celtic (12-10, 3-4) got to within 46-44 with 39 seconds left on a 3-pointer by junior Emily Persak.
But the Lions converted 5 of their final 6 free throws to seal the ESCC triumph.
"We needed this win," said Hohenadel, who scored a game-high 15 points with 4 assists. "We've been struggling. This was a big conference game. It was so exciting. We missed so many shots in the first that we had to come back in the second half."
Malone's free throw with 25.9 seconds left in regulation gave Viator a 34-30 lead but Providence tied it with a rebound layup by 6-foot sophomore Brittany Baker and 2 free throws by 6-foot classmate Cassidy Glenn (12 points) with eight seconds left.
Viator trailed 37-35 in the first OT but a free throw by Hohenadel with a minute left and another by Urbanus with 37.5 seconds sent the game to a second OT.
"Once Meghan and Bridget made those 2 big steals to start the second overtime, we knew we had it," Calov said. "Once we have our composure, we become very confident. This was a great confidence-builder for us."
Despite wearing a protective mask for an injury suffered Saturday at Conant, Lions senior Megan McGrath pulled down 5 rebounds with 4 points. Classmate Ronnie Mack grabbed 8 rebounds and scored 7 points.
Both teams struggled from the field. The Celtics were 15 of 53 shots while Viator made 16 of 60.
"We couldn't get into a flow on offense," said Providence Catholic coach Eileen Copenhaver, whose team was led by 5-8 senior guard Brianne Vanderberg's 14 points (three 3-pointers). "We had a lot of traveling calls. We just didn't adjust well to the situation."
Bjerkness, obviously, was happy with the outcome.
"Any time you can get a conference win, that's great," he said. "The first half was a defensive struggle (Viator trailed 14-12 at the break). We picked it up in the second half. Providence is a nice team.
"I thought Bridget (Urbanus) gave us a great burst of energy. She did a nice job defending their No. 10 (speedy 5-foot-2 guard Kathryn Budz)."
Naperville Central 49, Schaumburg 40: Sophomore Alyssa Saklak scored 18 points with a 3-pointer and senior Rachel Kahan added 9 for host Schaumburg (4-15) in the Sweet Sixteen contest.
Senior Taylor Kosla (6 points) had a pair of 3-pointers for the Saxons.