Numbers, wins on the rise at Harvest Christian

The numbers are up at Harvest Christian, and the wins are following.

After going through a trying season last year with just six players on the team, the Lions are at 12 this winter. Two are out injured, but there's still plenty of depth compared to last year.

Harvest Christian scored the first 8 points against Westminster Christian Tuesday night, opened up a 19-point lead in the third quarter and then fended off a Warriors rally for a 53-45 win.

Now 9-3 overall and 3-0 in the Northeastern Athletic, it's a far cry from last year.

"We are doing well. They are coming together as a team and playing well and turning the page from last year," said Lions coach Jeremy Burke, crediting his players for getting more girls to come out for the team.

"Having the girls be active in the school, word of mouth. Couple freshmen came in, and making sure players who wanted to play came in. Trying to excite people in the school about it. I told the girls their No. 1 job was to be an advocate for girls basketball inside your own school and they did a good job of it. They have been talking it up."

Maddy Martin was one of those six players on last year's team. She scored a game-high 27 points Tuesday.

"I'm thankful for everyone playing this year," Martin said. "Last year was a struggle. We just pushed through but I'm really blessed to have all these players this year."

Westminster senior Sophie Kovachevich scored the final 8 points of the first half to trim a 26-9 deficit to 26-17 at halftime.

Martin hit a 3-pointer to start the third quarter. She followed with a layup and another 3 to make it 34-21.

Martin totaled 14 points in the quarter, and the Lions looked like they were on their way to an easy win up 46-28.

But behind Meadow Oesterle, McKenna Oesterle and Taylor Barker, the Warriors opened the fourth quarter with a 15-2 run. Barker scored the final 7 points in that span to pull within 48-43 with three minutes remaining.

A basket by Melissa Fuja and Martin's third 3 of the game ended the Warriors' comeback hopes.

"There were good moments when we worked together," Burke said. "We moved the ball very well tonight. We were finding the open person. Unfortunately we didn't knock down as many open shots. I thought our defense at times was good, we just have to limit teams to one shot."

Fuja joined Martin in double figures with 11 points. Alex Sheperd grabbed 12 rebounds and Lauren Semerau pulled down 8.

Kovachevich led the Warriors with 13 points and 9 rebounds, Meadow Oesterle had 10 points, McKenna Oesterle collected 10 boards, and Barker had 9 points and 7 rebounds.

Westminster Christian, who is just 2-4 on the season, can relate to what the Lions went through last year as they only have seven players.

"The thing I was most encouraged about was because of our aggressive play we were able to put them on their heels a little bit," Warriors coach Fred Versluys said. "At the end of the day five in and five out for them and we were winded. But compete, that's what I want, to be in the game at the end, and the girls did."

Harvest boys 74, Westminster 54: Like the girls, Harvest Christian's boys team also took a big early lead and never trailed.

Freshman Ben Lothery scored 21 of his career-high 33 in the first half. The Lions built a 43-20 halftime lead on their way to a 74-54 victory.

Lothery drained 7 of his 11 shots from the 3-point arc.

"Ben did a great job tonight," Harvest coach Bryan Bradshaw said. "He shot the ball well and he's just a good player. It's fun to have him and it's fun to see him have a game like that."

Lothery, from Arlington Heights, helped make up for the loss of junior Matt Ellett, the Lions' leading scorer at 20 ppg. Ellett injured his elbow while getting hit while trying to catch a pass in the previous game.

"He's a great kid," Bradshaw said. "First year at the school. Other kids love him. Just a good teammate. It's a lot of fun to coach him. He's gotten a lot better since game one. He's taking a lot of steps, and he's making other players better."

Harvest improved to 6-7, 2-1 while dropping Westminster to 2-10.

Bradshaw isn't sure how long Ellett will be sidelined, hoping he could get him back in four or five weeks. In addition to Lothery, Nate Boldog added 13 points and Alec Nohava scored 10.

"Guys were stepping up," Bradshaw said. "I told the guys you are all going to have to step up and step in. You will make mistakes but just play hard. It's just making us better for the future. The more game experience they can get the better for us."

Trailing 51-26 in the third quarter, the Warriors did fight back within 53-39. Boldog drained a 3-pointer to end the third quarter, then the Lions surged again at the start of the fourth.

Erik Haegland led Westminster with 19 points, Frankie Schaffer added 12 and Nate Ephrem 7.