Schaumburg fends off Palatine in final MSW game of season

So what has been the focus for Schaumburg girls basketball team?

Exactly that: Focus.

“We’ve been working on staying mentally in the game for four quarters and I think it showed,” said Saxons junior forward Alyssa Saklak.

Focus proved to be what the visiting Saxons needed Monday night after Palatine wiped out their 8-point lead by scoring the first 8 points of the second half, 6 by Katelyn Mayer and 2 by Katie Scovic.

But Saklak responded with a 3-pointer to get the Saxons back on track.

The two teams battled hard the rest of the way before Schaumburg was able to grind out a 48-45 triumph in the final Mid-Suburban West game of the season.

“This will help boost our confidence before the state playoffs,” said Saklak, who boosted her team with a game-high 18 points. “It was their Senior’s Night, so we knew we had to come out strong and take to them.”

Mayer, a 5-foot-10 junior, took it to the Saxons (12-14, 4-6) in the third quarter when she scored 8 of her team-high 11 points.

Sophomore guard Nia Pappas hit three 3-pointers for 9 points, while Scovic added 8 and McKenzie Wiedemann 7 for the Pirates (7-18, 1-9).

“Katelyn Mayer has been playing great basketball and improving right along with every game,” said Pirates coach Leslie Schock, who started seniors Molly Deal, Alexis DeJulio, Lauren Radtke and Scovic for Seniors Night. “We are really excited to see what she (Mayer) can do as a senior as she has emerged as one of our top players.”

Saklak has emerged as a top player in the MSL, too, showing her aggressive moves to the basket and tough rebounding.

Also contributing to the Saxons’ offense were sophomore Amanda Kelly (12 points) and junior Jenna Gerber (8), while seniors Rachel Stuehm and Jennifer Pomagier each chipped in 4.

“Give Palatine credit — they came out strong in the second half,” said Schaumburg coach Ashley Berggren. “We were able to weather the storm and keep our composure.”

Pappas’ third 3-pointer tied the game at 42-42 before Schaumburg got the lead for good at 44-42 on Saklak’s big drive from the right side to the lane for a running eight-footer.

A free throw by Mayer made it 44-43 before Kelly stepped with a big layup for a 46-43 lead with 3:19 left.

“Amanda is really gaining a lot of experience at the point guard position,” Berggren added. “She is going to be leading our team for the next two seasons, so she is learning what it takes to a be a leader. She is stepping into the role real well.”

Schock said her team must cut down on turnovers.

“We made a lot of silly ones,” she said. “In close games, you can’t make those mistakes. We’re a young team and hopefully (we’ll) get that out of our system.”

St. Viator 61, Wheaton St. Francis 58: Senior Taylor Skala scored 21 points with 6 rebounds while junior Lauren Rooney also had 6 rebounds with 11 points for host St. Viator in the nonconference game.

Senior Megan Bailey and junior Katie Calmeyn chipped in 8 apiece for the Lions (13-14), who finish their regular season at Joliet Catholic on Wednesday.

Teammate Katie Gavin added 6 points and Morgan Hess pulled down 5 rebounds.

Rooney, Gavin, Skala and Calmeyn made key free throws in the final period as the Lions converted 18-of-31 for the game.

“In the end, the defense came through getting a big block and a big rebound.,” said Lions coach Paul Bjerkness. “It was a solid effort on both ends of the floor. St. Francis is a good team. They kept coming at us we were able to hold them off.”

Addison Trail 54, Rolling Meadows 52: The Mustangs (17-11) will look to snap a two-game losing streak when they host Schaumburg today at 7:30 p.m.