Defense is making the difference for Palatine
Moments after Palatine's girls basketball team won its first game of the Blue Devil Classic on Saturday at Warren High School, Pirates junior guard Nia Pappas had no problem summing up the victory.
"Beautiful defense," she said after scoring a game-high 13 points with 2 assists and 2 steals in a 40-28 triumph over Wheeling. "And we were all pretty equal in scoring. That helps."
Pappas' classmate McKenzie Wiedemann helped the Pirates get off to a fast start in the second half in Gurnee.
With Palatine nursing an 18-15 lead at intermission, Wiedemann hit a 15-footer from the baseline to spark a 6-0 run.
Wiedemann then came up with a steal and assisted on Katelyn Mayer's (10 points) fastbreak layup.
After a timeout, Wiedemann was back at it again, charging to the basket for a 6-footer and she converted it into a 3-point play.
"I love going to the basket," said Wiedemann, who is just as much an outside scoring threat.
The Pirates (8-3) built a 16-9 lead in the first quarter when Pappas hit a 15-foot pull-up jumper with 4:19 left.
But Wheeling narrowed the deficit and got to within 18-15 at half when Kellie Kuzmanic hustled between Pirates to grab a long offensive rebound and then flipped a nice pass to Hannah Drobowski, who converted the layup.
"We let them have some easy points before the half," Wiedemann said. "We knew we were a better team than the first half. We have to come out and play defense like we know we can all the time because we know that's what win games for us."
Freshman Monica Masini chipped in 7 points and 4 rebounds for the Pirates.
Top scorer for the Wildcats (1-12) was senior Leah Malsom (5 rebounds) with 10 points.
Senior Kellie Kumzmanic led Wheeling with 11 rebounds. Her sister Deanna, a freshman, handed out 4 assists with 4 points while making her first start since suffering an ankle injury on Nov. 29 against Barrington.
"I think we just have to figure out how to put a full game together," said Wheeling coach Julissa Hernandez. "Early in the season, we've held together well in the first quarter but now we must do it all four quarters.
"And we have to find a way for our shots to fall (10-of-33 from the floor). We are getting good looks, but we've got to finish."
Palatine coach Leslie Schock, whose team shot 15-of-37, also would like to see more shots fall.
"I keep telling the girls when they don't fall, we've got to rely on defense," she said. "We've really been holding team to below their average. To hold Wheeling to 28, that's a tremendous defensive effort. That's what is keeping us in games.
"And like I said before, Wheeling is a better team than its record reflects. They've had some injuries and have played some tough competition. Their coach is doing a nice job and they're a nice club. They play very hard."