Streamwood nips Meadows to stay undefeated

More recently than not a Monday nonconference girls basketball game between Streamwood and Rolling Meadows on a night with wind chills below zero would not command a postseason atmosphere you know, the band, the cheerleaders and the 300-plus people in the stands.

But times have changed for the Sabres and the Mustangs, and Monday's battle of undefeated teams in Streamwood lived up to its dramatic billing.

It also lived up to what playing good defense is all about. In the end, the Sabres prevailed, 38-37, to run their season-opening unbeaten streak to 11 straight. They now stand just 3 straight wins from achieving two milestones tying the program record for best start to a season (1987-88), and giving their longtime coach his 300th win in a Streamwood sweater. No. 12 could come Thursday against Addison Trail at home, then comes a much-anticipated matchup with undefeated Libertyville and standout Savannah Trees in the quarterfinals of the Mundelein Holiday Tournament on Saturday.

"It's incredible," said Streamwood coach George Rosner after the heart-stopping finish. "I'm so proud of my girls. No one thought we'd be here except maybe us. To be 11-0 right now is phenomenal."

And the Sabres won this one pretty much the same way they won the previous 10 good hard-nosed defense and just enough offense, this time against another outstanding defensive team in Rolling Meadows (9-1).

"That's one of the best defensive teams we've played this season," Rosner said of the Mustangs. "We knew it would be a low-scoring game and we wouldn't put up the (offensive) numbers we have been."

Streamwood had as much as a 10-point lead in the first half and carried a 20-12 advantage into the break as Rolling Meadows was just 4 of 21 shooting in the first 16 minutes.

But the Mustangs came alive in the second half, trailing just 26-24 going into the fourth quarter and then tying the game at 28 on 2 free throws from freshman Alexis Glasgow with 6:53 to play. But senior Emma Schmidt scored on a putback to make it 30-28 Streamwood before sophomore Morgan Keller tied it again for Meadows with 5:38 to play.

But then Schmidt hit another putback and after a Meadows miss she made a layup around a Michelle Tomczak screen and the Sabres had a 34-30 lead with 4:01 left.

"There were three or four times we could have got that lead," said Meadows coach Todd Hatfield. "But we shot (4 of 21) in the first half and we made 10 of 18 from the free throw line. That hurt."

Meadows was unable to close the gap until freshman Jennifer Vliet created a dramatic finish when she hit a 3-pointer with 1:07 left in regulation to make it a 38-37 game. Streamwood inbounded the ball and was able to work the clock down to 15 seconds before sophomore Jessica Cerda was fouled and missed the front end of the one-and-one. Meadows rebounded and called time out with 11 seconds left, and with 6 ticks to go Streamwood was called for a holding foul off the ball. Vliet missed the first of the one-and-bonus and the Sabres rebounded. With 4 seconds left, Streamwood sophomore Deja Moore missed 2 free throws but the Mustangs weren't able to get the ball in the frontcourt quickly enough for a good shot.

"To be the visiting team and to have an opportunity to win at the buzzer is all you can ask for," Hatfield said. "Streamwood's been tested and they've proved they're the real deal. They were the better team today. Hopefully we'll see them again down the road."

Tomczak led the Sabres with another double-double of 13 points, including going 9 of 11 at the line, and 11 rebounds. She also had 6 blocked shots. Schmidt added 11 points and 8 rebounds.

"It's very surreal actually," the 6-foot-3 Tomczak said of being 11-0. "A few years ago we were (4-22). Now, to be 11-0 is amazing. But we know we have to keep playing our game and keep our intensity to keep it up."

Vliet led the Mustangs with 13 points and Keller added 9.

Boys bowling

Larkin d. McHenry: Austin Lodge (672 series), Sean Maloney (602) and Jalen Griffin (603) led Larkin to a 3-1 win over McHenry Monday. Lodge's 253 was the high game of the day for the Royals.