Winning, the Wheeling way
Wheeling's girls basketball team became known for its dramatic fourth-quarter comebacks en route to winning the Mid-Suburban East title this season.
In Wednesday's 37th annual MSL title game, the Wildcats got their big comeback out of the way early before a crowd of some 1,000 fans at the Fremd gymnasium.
The Vikings jumped ahead 7-0 with 5 points from senior Gianna Abruzzo (game-high 18 points) and a steal and layup by freshman Ashley McConnell.
But the Wildcats (25-4), just as they had in wins over Hersey, Prospect and Elk Grove, turned up the defensive pressure and charged back to lead 13-11 after the quarter.
The cushion gradually grew as the half went on and by the time the final buzzer sounded, the Wildcats were in the driver's seat for a 51-36 triumph.
As usual, seniors Janelle Cannon, Bianca Szafarowicz and Stephanie Kuzmanic did the major steering for the Wildcats, who became only the third MSL team to win three straight league crowns, joining Fremd and Buffalo Grove.
"We've got surprises all the time," said Kuzmanic about the early comeback this time. "We felt confident. They were face-guarding us in a zone and we started to try and get the ball inside."
Cannon gutted out the 32 minutes after missing practice Tuesday with illness. The Minnesota recruit scored a team-high 16 points with 8 rebounds 3 assists.
"During the national anthem, I was not feeling well at all," Cannon said. "I haven't been able to keep anything down. I've been real tired and had no energy.
But I'm really happy now and with no practice (today), that makes me feel a lot better."
There wasn't anyone much better than Szafarowicz in the final quarter when the Truman State recruit scored 10 of her 13 points.
Fremd (20-9) cut a 12-point deficit to 35-30 when Abruzzo hit 2 of her 8 free throws to start the final period.
But Szafarowicz (4 rebounds) scored 5 buckets in the final eight minutes, including a big steal and layup for 49-34 lead with 2:15 left.
"Szafarowicz really stepped up in the second half and kind of took over down the stretch," said Fremd coach Dave Yates, whose team made 11 of 15 free throws. "I thought we had a great start, but Wheeling is not the kind of team that is going to concede."
A 3-pointer by Taylor Glassmann tied the game at 14 early in the second quarter but Wheeling went on a 6-0 run and never trailed again.
Two drives by Cannon and a 17-footer by Szafarowicz accounted for the 6 points.
"I guess we were a little flat at the start," Szafarowicz said. "Janelle was not feeling well and we just said we had to pick it up in the second quarter. We did and we led the rest of the game."
Kellie Kuzmanic, Larissa Aguero and Leah Malsom also had big baskets for the Wildats.
"Leah had some big buckets off the bench," Stephanie Kuzmanic said. "Ellie Grinter contributed a lot on defense. Everyone stepped up for us."
Abruzzo stepped up with her 18 points and 9 rebounds while Glassmann added 5 with 4 steals.
"It was tough," Abruzzo said. "We got off to a great start. We answered them early but then we couldn't match their pressure late. They got a couple of steals and some loose balls and they kind of got away from us at the end.
"But we are so happy we made it this far. To be in the championship game is huge for us. We can go into our regional next week knowing we played great teams."
Wiegel felt her seniors made their statement this season.
"This was a different team from the past two (MSL champions)," she said. "These kids really had to prove themselves. These seniors wanted to make their mark. They finished with an exclamation point."
Cannon will use today to rest.
"I thought she played great defense and really attacked the basket," Wiegel said. "When she was challenged, she made great passes."
Yates was proud of his team.
"That game by Gianna was typical of her all season," he said. "She is relentless. She hit some tough shots on some athletic kids.
"I'm proud of our kids. They battled from the start to the end. Playing this game is an advantage for our young kids in the future. And our hope is to see them (Wheeling) later (in the state tourney)."
Bridget Kubis, Megan Gray and Jessi Wiedemann also contributed on offense for Fremd.
"We needed to shoot better," Yates added "For whatever reason, we had opens looks but didn't make the shots. We are a better shooting team than that.
"And Wheeling's kids did a nice job shooting when they had open looks. They did a nice job going to the basket and we didn't contain them after they got the lead from us in the first quarter."