Batavia battles past St. Charles North
Hannah Frazier might average 23 points a game, but Batavia proved Thursday they are much more than a one-girl team.
A feisty effort on the defensive end and clutch baskets late helped Batavia overcome an early 12-point deficit and start Upstate Eight Conference River play with a 55-49 win at St. Charles North.
The North Stars (3-1, 0-1) with their 2-3 zone and imposing front line held Frazier to 7 points. Her teammates had her back led by freshman Hailey Orman with 15 points including four 3-point baskets.
"You have to shoot it to make it," Orman said.
That's the approach Batavia coach Kevin Jensen wants to see, shooters who aren't going to wait for Frazier to take over but instead confidently take their own shots. Jess Koch and McKenzie Foster joined Orman in double figures with 10 points.
"Everybody did something," Jensen said. "Hannah didn't get her points but her presence was felt because all their energy was on stopping her. Her being out there is what opened things up."
Batavia (5-1, 1-0) trailed 26-14 after the North Stars went on a 16-3 run spanning the first and second quarters. St. Charles North repeatedly got the ball inside to Morgan Rosencrants (18 points, 9 rebounds) and Clairie Jakaitis (11 points, 6 rebounds).
The Bulldogs outscored the North Stars 10-2 to pull within 28-24 at halftime. They regained the lead 29-28 when Koch found Frazier down low.
Kyla Helsel put the North Stars back on top with a 3-pointer, and they still led 40-37 after three quarters despite a 3-point basket from Stephanie Rodriguez.
Elizabeth Olsem opened the fourth quarter with a 3-point play, giving the North Stars a 43-39 lead with 7:03 left.
The North Stars would not make another shot from the field over those final 7 minutes, turning the ball over 9 times against Batavia's 2-2-1 press.
"We had more turnovers than shot attempts (in the second half)," North Stars coach Sean Masoncup said. "You aren't going to win basketball games doing that. All of a sudden we decided to stop doing what we have done all week."
A long jumper by Frazier pulled the Bulldogs even at 43 with 4:48 left. Moments later Shea Bayram drained a corner 3 to put Batavia ahead 46-43, and while they made just 5 of 12 free throws in the final four minutes, the North Stars never caught up as they continued to turn the ball over.
Hailey Orman and Foster hit timely baskets to keep the Bulldogs in front at 49-45 and 51-47.
Bethany Orman led the defense with 6 steals.
"Our motto is we have to keep going, keep going, we've got to play tight defense, wear our opponents down," Bethany Orman said. "I think the pressure we put on teams will definitely help us."
Samantha Sample added 8 points for the North Stars.
"Hannah is one of the top 8 players in the state of Illinois and we held her to 7 points. Our bigs did a great job," Masoncup said. "I think it was a good battle. At times I thought we looked very good today. We'll move on. It's a long, long, long season. I can see how we can be very good."