Evanston nips Batavia at Montini
Batavia's girls basketball team got all it ever hoped for — and almost a little bit more — during Wednesday's fifth-place game of the star-studded Montini Christmas Tournament.
Playing its heart out at the defensive end throughout the contest against an athletically superior Evanston team, the Bulldogs (14-4) came up just short during a 41-40 loss to the Wildkits (13-3) in Lombard.
“We worked really hard,” said Bulldogs coach Kevin Jensen. “Any of these games on this side of the bracket with these teams — there's really not any margin for error.
“One less turnover here or there, one extra made free throw here or there — and it's not even the ones in the last minute. Everyone will remember those things but in a one-point game every single possession is so important.”
Trailing by a point, the Bulldogs got a second chance after Leighah Wool (7 points, 7 rebounds) missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 8.6 seconds remaining.
After calling a timeout with 3.2 seconds left, Jensen figured the Wildkits would focus primarily on 6-foot-2 senior forward Hannah Frazier.
“We drew a play up in the dirt,” said Jensen. “I told Jess (Koch), ‘if they all go to guard Hannah, you might have a game-winning layup.' ”
Koch caught the inbound pass from Bethany Orman and was fouled while attempting to get a shot off with 1.1 seconds remaining.
“I was glad they called it because I thought she got hammered,” said Jensen.
Unfortunately, Koch (7 points) misfired on both free throws as the Wildkits escaped.
“I'll be honest — I don't know that I want anybody else (shooting the free throws),” Jensen said of Koch. “If you gave me somebody to pick to shoot those last two, Jess is one of them. We just didn't hit them. It happens.”
“Jess is probably frustrated with herself but she's one of the best free-throw shooters on the team,” added Frazier. “I want her on that line every time.”
Despite facing constant double- and triple-team defense, Frazier finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds.
“I firmly believe you could call a foul on the opposition on almost every possession because you have to be so physical to slow her down,” said Jensen. “And because she's so strong, she doesn't fall down so you don't get those calls.”
Frazier's 3-pointer from the top of the key gave the Bulldogs a 35-34 lead midway through the fourth quarter, their first lead since going ahead 2-0 in the opening minute.
“Hannah is awesome,” Evanston coach Elliot Whiteside said of Frazier. “I wonder why she doesn't step out a little bit more because she can bring some posts up and then drive right by them.”
A layup by Savannah Norfleet (13 points) with 23 seconds left proved to be the game-winner as the Bulldogs finished the tourney with a 2-2 record.
“We played four consecutive teams in the top 20 and lost two by a total of six points,” said Jensen. “There's not a whole lot of complaints.”