Bergstrom, Ahram lead St. Viator past Marengo
It looks like opponents might as well get used to it.
St. Viator's girls basketball team can light it from the outside if need be.
The Lions hit for 12 3-pointers on Thursday night.
Freshman Joy Bergstrom connected for half of them en route to a game-high 25 points while her classmate Nora Ahram had a pair of 3-pointers and 23 points as the rookies helped lead St. Viator to a 66-48 nonconference triumph over Marengo at the Cahill Gymnasium in Arlington Heights.
The Lions' season high is 14 3-pointers against Jacobs.
Also connecting for 3-pointers were seniors Elise Horbach (3) and Natale Krause (1) as Viator improved to 5-1 and Marengo slipped to 4-3.
"Our freshmen are such great assets," said Horbach, who had 11 points. "They're great for the team and we love them."
Lions coach Jason Raymond loved his team's defensive work, especially on Marengo's talented senior guard Marissa Knobloch, who scored 10 of her 15 points in the second half.
"I have a lot of respect for Marengo," Raymond said. "They were a sectional team last year and they're a veteran team. Knobloch is a tremendous player. We defended her by committee. I'm really proud of the job by Sam DeJulio. She started out on Knobloch and really set the tone. Then Payton McDonnell, another senior, came in as the next player up and carried on with tough defense on her (Knobloch). And then our sophomore Emma Morrisey was on her, too."
Knobloch's 3-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer gave Marengo a 12-11 lead but the Lions started the next period on a 17-4 run and never looked back.
"Those guys are tremendously coached on the defensive end," said Marengo coach Nick Rode. "And on the offensive end, they are super disciplined. Somehow, they're able to play an intense game and be composed at the same time."
Horbach plays her role in that part.
"Elise does a great job," Raymond said. "She is a matchup problem. A lot of times she'll guard players five to six inches taller. But she is a tough kid and a tough defender.
"On offense, she poses a problem for the opponent because she can really space the floor and hit the 3s."
Three 3-pointers by Bergstrom and one by Horbach sparked the Lions' 19-5 edge in the second quarter.
"They are tough to cover," Rode added. "As a team we got a little rattled with their pressure and we didn't stick with our offensive principles and movement."
Morrisey and classmate Aubrey Horbach also scored points for the Lions.
"We can definitely put four shooters out there at any time and really spread the floor," Raymond added. "But the great thing is we also have players who can penetrate to the basket. It's very difficult to guard us. It's kind of pick your poison, If you close down the lane on us, we'll kick it out for three. If you take the 3-pointer away, we'll drive to the basket. And we have a tendency to get to the free throw line as well."
Christian Liberty 55, Woodlands 42: Christian Liberty Academy raised its record to 5-1 with a win at Woodlands Academy in Lake Forest. Leading the Chargers were freshman Hannah Mindak (17 points), Audrey Law (11 points) and Julia Wolke (10 points).