Streamwood's 4th quarter smothers Burlington Central
This is the time of the season when coaches want to see their teams at the top of their game. The postseason begins next week and it's one-and-done time.
On Wednesday night in Streamwood, Sabres' coach George Rosner came away satisfied. Burlington Central coach Stephanie Smith did not.
Streamwood blitzed the visiting Rockets 24-12 in the fourth quarter to turn a close game into a 51-42 nonconference win.
Seniors Emma Schmidt and Melissa Oehlerking led the way for Streamwood, which won for the third straight time. Schmidt had 16 points and 13 rebounds and Oehlerking scored 15 points and grabbed 11 boards as the Sabres were able to shake off a sluggish first half and stay in the game before putting it away with their big fourth quarter.
"We were lucky to be down by four at halftime," said Rosner, who won his 325th career game (283rd at Streamwood). "We did not play well in the first half. But in the second half and especially the fourth quarter we played much better, especially on defense.
"It was a good win ... a good comeback win."
Burlington (16-10) led 22-18 at halftime but with 6-foot center Alli Settanni in foul trouble and 5-10 senior leader Taylor Colby home sick, the Rockets struggled to score. Sophomore center Brenda Thasavong did connect for 17 points but no other Rocket scored in double figures. Senior scoring leader Jordan Maisto was held to 9 points and 0-for-3 shooting from 3-point range, in large part because of the smothering defense of Streamwood sophomore Amanda Patterson.
"She plays 32 minutes a game, she handles the ball for us and she did a nice job on (Maisto) tonight," said Rosner of Patterson. "That's the best we've contained her in the times we've played them."
The Rockets led 35-30 after a Megan Minehart basket with 6:28 left in the game. But then back-to-back 3-pointers from Alex Kowalewski and Jessica Cerda put the Sabres, followed by Patterson's basket off a steal gave the Sabres a 38-35 lead. Araceli Munoz (9 points) scored to tie the game but Schmidt's basket with 5:05 left in the game put the Sabres ahead for good. They outscored BC 13-4 down the stretch with Oehlerking hitting 5 of 6 from the free throw line to seal the deal.
"That was definitely one her better games tonight," said Rosner of Oehlerking.
"What really opened it up was hitting those back-to-back 3s. Then, (BC) had to come out on us."
For the Sabres the modest 3-game winning streak couldn't come at a better time. They finish the regular season with winnable games against Elgin tonight and Larkin Friday before heading into the Class 4A Cary-Grove regional on Tuesday when they take on Dundee-Crown.
But for the Rockets, it was their second loss in a row and the ninth time they've lost a game in which they led in the second half.
"We have to decide if we're going to be a great team or an average team," said Smith. "We got into foul trouble and we didn't box out. When we boxed out we were winning. When we didn't they came back. Twenty-four points in the fourth quarter ... we played no defense. Taylor being out hurt but we have to play better."
The Rockets close the regular season tonight at Marengo and then open Class 3A regional play at Rochelle on Monday against Sycamore.