Addison Trail’s Pezzopane making believers
Addison Trail coach Rob Schader predicted that Marissa Pezzopane would put up big numbers this year, if healthy.
Pezzopane’s making him look prophetic.
Four nights after scoring a career-high 29 points at the Oswego East Tournament, Pezzopane poured in 27 in the Blazers’ 57-41 win over Downers Grove North on Tuesday in Addison.
“Coach believes in me greatly,” Pezzopane said. “We have a great coaching staff here and that really helps me to do my best. It felt good tonight.”
Pezzopane must be grateful just to be back on the court.
The Blazers senior forward suffered a navicular stress fracture in her foot the first day of summer practice and was out six weeks. She went back to the doctor to get a CT scan and was told the bone wasn’t healing as fast as expected. Pezzopane wore a cast for another six weeks and was on crutches for two months.
She missed all of volleyball season and the first six games of basketball, returning Dec. 2 against Leyden.
“I’m starting to get back into my rhythm,” Pezzopane said. “My teammates are helping me a lot, working the ball into the paint.”
Pezzopane is a 6-footer with a deft shooting touch, and she used that to her advantage Tuesday. Addison Trail ran several pick-and-rolls and pick-and-pops her way. She hit 11 of 17 field goals, at one point dropping in seven in a row.
“No one is really stopping her,” Schader said. “There’s still some things she needs to work on down low as far as turning and facing, but she’s doing a great job and helping us on the boards too. Getting her back was huge.”
Both teams came out cold in the first quarter, Addison Trail leading 7-6 after eight minutes. The Blazers picked it up in the second period, leading 21-13 by halftime. Addison Trail (8-8), which won its third straight after a four-game skid, shot a sizzling 56 percent after the first quarter.
JoAnn DiNatale scored 9 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds.
“She stepped in when Marissa was out and did a nice job down low for us,” Schader said. “She’s just a ball magnet.”
Downers Grove North (3-12) snapped a 10-game losing streak last Thursday against Elgin. The Trojans did show scrap, particularly in the third quarter.
The Trojans threw fullcourt pressure at the Blazers, and a basket by Frannie Jones followed by two Jones free throws pulled her team within 23-19.
Addison Trail turned it over again, but at other end Pezzopane took a charge to prevent another basket. She then scored three baskets in a decisive 10-0 run.
Defending the 6-footer was a chore for a Trojans team with only one starter taller than 5-8. Jones and Mary Echemann each scored 8 points for Downers Grove North.
“As we’ve been telling the kids all year, you need to give 32 minutes — you can’t give six minutes in a basketball game and expect to come out on top,” Trojans coach Leslie Dehn said. “We have spurts of playing real well as a team. We have to put it together for four quarters.”