Sycamore ends it for Burlington Central
The Burlington Central girls basketball team held Sycamore to 37 percent shooting Monday night.
The problem was the Rockets allowed the Spartans numerous second and third opportunities and that cost Central in a 48-41 season-ending loss to the Spartans in the play-in game of the Class 3A Sycamore regional.
“Boxing out is the key,” Central coach Stephanie Smith said. “They got too many extra shots. I think if we would have boxed out it would have been a totally different game.”
No. 5 Sycamore (14-12) will play top seed Hampshire (25-2) at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the semifinals.
Central (11-17) scored the opening points of the game on a basket from Alli Settanni. But 2 minutes in the Spartans took a 3-2 lead and never trailed again.
The Rockets committed 7 turnovers in the opening quarter, many leading to baskets, and trailed 14-8 after the first quarter.
“I don’t think we were nervous,” said Central junior Brenda Thasavong, who finished with a team-high 16 points and 11 rebounds. “We were more anxious to get out there and play.”
A Catherine Kaynish 3-pointer with 4:33 left in the first half brought the Rockets within 3, 20-17. But Sycamore increased the lead to 7, 27-20, at halftime. Central had 12 total rebounds in the first half. The Spartans had 11 offensive rebounds, including four from Ashley LeClair and three from Jessica Pluhm.
“Jess Pluhm really, really has picked it up on the offensive rebounds,” Sycamore coach Ryan Picolotti said. “When you see teammates put out that effort it should be contagious. Ashley LeClair did a nice job hitting the boards as well.”
The Spartans led 38-24 with 5 minutes left in the third, but Central answered with a 7-0 run, capped by a Jessica Laird 3-pointer, to get back within 7, 38-31, with 2:30 remaining in the third.
The deficit was back to 11, 44-33, with 4:40 left to go. The Rockets again fought their way back, this time on an 8-0 run to get within 3, 44-41. But the Spartans broke the Rockets’ press for an easy layup from Kwaza, who led the Spartans with 16 points, and Leesa Potthoff sealed the game with a pair of free throws.
Settanni added 8 points and 7 rebounds in her final game for the Rockets. Kaynish and Camille Dela Cruz each had 6 points.
Girls basketball
Prairie Ridge 37, Jacobs 21: Melanie Schwerdtmann had 13 points for the Golden Eagles (4-23), who had their season ended with this loss at the Class 4A Huntley regional.
McHenry 40, CL South 27: Brittany Pittas led Crystal Lake South (3-24), which saw a tough season come to an end at the Class 4A Huntley regional.
Boys basketball
Chicago Latin 58, Elgin Academy 33: Connor Flexman had 11 points to lead the Hilltoppers (6-14, 2-9) in this Independent School League loss.
John Radtke contributed to this report