Tie for title is music to Wheaton North's ears
Wheaton North gets motivated listening to music.
Eminem's "Lose Yourself" is one of the Falcons' pregame favorites.
"Music is a big thing for us," Wheaton North junior A.K. Feltes said. "It gets everybody focused and loosens us all up."
Just like Eminem's lyrics implore, the Falcons captured their one opportunity Friday at everything they wanted.
Wheaton North built a 21-point lead on rival Wheaton Warrenville South, then held on for a 45-37 win to clinch a share of its second straight DuPage Valley Conference championship.
"It felt like deja vu," said Falcons junior Fantasia Vine, who had 15 points, 5 assists and 4 steals. "First game we lost at West Chicago's place just like last year, we lost against (Naperville) Central. We're a young team. We wanted to come back and show people what Wheaton North is all about."
Wheaton North (17-9, 12-2) might have split the DVC with Naperville Central for the second straight year, but the Falcons did so with a fresh cast of characters. Last year's Falcons had nine seniors. This group starts three juniors and a sophomore. A freshman off the bench, Mandy Traversa, had 8 points Friday.
"For these kids," Wheaton North coach David Eaton said, "it's like winning their first one. After a shaky start to the beginning of the season, to do what we did, I think a lot of people didn't expect that."
Wheaton North had struggled some of late, losing at home to Naperville Central and winning by 1 Thursday at a Glenbard East team last in the conference. But the Falcons jumped on WW South early, leading 17-4 after a quarter behind 7 early points each from Feltes and Lauren Graham.
The lead was 25-9 by halftime, and a Traversa 3-pointer pushed the margin to 37-16 with 1:46 left in the third quarter.
"It came down to them just playing their game," Eaton said. "I think the last couple games we've been playing nervous, and it showed. Tonight they had that look in their eye in pregame. I knew they were ready to go."
WW South, playing its third game in four nights, didn't quit. Still down 21 with less than seven minutes to play, the Tigers came all the way back to within 41-35 with 35 seconds left on a steal and score by Kasey Gassensmith.
Vine split two free throws after being fouled intentionally, then converted a three-point play on an inbounds play to stem any further WW South comeback hopes. Feltes had 9 points and 10 rebounds for Wheaton North.
Katie Ottolin scored 6 of her 9 points for WW South (19-9, 8-6) in the fourth quarter, and also pulled down 17 rebounds - 9 offensive. Annie Shain added 10 points.
"Never have we ever questioned their effort," WW South coach Rob Kroehnke said. "That kind of effort, after playing Tuesday and Thursday on the road is unbelievable. In all my years of coaching, I've never been more proud of a team and the way they've worked.
"Katie picked up two fouls early, but when she came back in she played as hard as she possibly can. When she rebounds like that, she can rebound with the best of them."