Schaumburg knocks off Willowbrook at Wheaton North
Whether it be a basketball or volleyball court, Schaumburg junior Mallory Gerber tries to bring the same energetic approach.
"Mental toughness is a huge thing in both sports, and staying confident in each other and in yourself," Gerber said. "Teamwise, it's a lot different because there are different people on the court and different people on the team."
Gerber found many ways to contribute for the Saxons in Monday's 58-48 victory over Willowbrook in the opening round of Wheaton North's Bill Neibch Falcon Holiday Classic.
Schaumburg (7-5), the No. 4 seed, meets St. Charles East (5-7) at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the quarterfinals. The Saxons won their Nov. 24 meeting 51-42 at Schaumburg.
Willowbrook (4-9) and No. 5 seed Palatine (4-9) play at noon Tuesday in the consolation bracket.
Gerber had 18 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists, and Laura O'Connell had 15 points. Lexi Ross and Kayla Patterson helped off the bench, especially after Maya Bowens received her fourth foul early in the third quarter.
The Warriors' Dani Velasquez had 11 of her team-high 14 points in the second half. Josie Zabran had 12 points and 7 rebounds.
The Saxons never trailed after the first three minutes, but after leading 33-22 midway through the third quarter, they faced a 40-40 tie with 5:44 left. The Saxons scored on their next two possessions and pulled away by hitting 13 of 15 free throws in the period to finish 22 of 31.
"(Willowbrook) played hard. They really played as a team on defense and made it tough for us," Schaumburg coach Chris Goodwin said. "I thought we were very aggressive in going to the basket towards the end and getting to the free-throw line. That's kind of what we needed to do the whole game, but I'm happy that we adjusted and were able to come away with the win."
The 5-foot-11 Gerber wants to become a physician assistant and hopes to find a college where she also can play basketball and volleyball.
"I like just helping out my team any way, whether that's scoring or giving assists or getting extra rebounds," Gerber said. "I just keep working hard and then that just leads to good things for the team."
The taller Saxons only outrebounded Willowbrook 37-35 but got key putbacks by Gerber for a 42-40 lead and Bowens for a 46-42 advantage.
Gerber later fed Paige Alt on a fastbreak for a three-point play and 49-42 lead. Velasquez followed with the Warriors' first three, but by the time Grace Chantos sank hers with 33.7 seconds, the Saxons had made five unanswered free throws, four by O'Connell.
The Warriors made 19 of 58 shots but just 3 of their last 12.
"We couldn't put a shot in (after 40-40), and they shot extremely well from the free-throw line. The two putbacks, they hurt. The other thing is we're not a very big team," Willowbrook coach Terry Harrell said.
"We've played hard to this point, and we've played well in spots. We just haven't completed games."