Shots don't fall, Wheaton Academy does
A lot of stats are kept in basketball, including rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.
But many times, the simplest answer is the right one.
"Our shots weren't falling tonight," Wheaton Academy coach Erin Carwell said. "And you can't control that. There are some things about that you just can't control."
The host Warriors had one of those nights at the worst time, missing close-range opportunities early and often en route to a 39-30 season-ending loss to Somonauk on Tuesday night in West Chicago.
Somonauk, the 12th seed in the Class 2A Mendota sectional, used the inside-out game of juniors Maggie Roberts and Ashley Eaton to take and hold an early lead until the fourth quarter.
But they needed one more trick to topple Wheaton Academy, the No. 5 seed that held a short-lived 28-27 lead with six minutes to go.
"As a matter of fact, we added a play at halftime," Bobcats coach Garland King said. "It was simple to grasp. We saw their defense and our assistant coach said we're going to add this. Oddly, enough it gave us the points that gave us the lead."
The play was again to Roberts in the block, who scored on a contested lay-in to give Somonauk a lead it held for the final five minutes.
Roberts finished with game-highs in points with 20 and rebounds with 12. Easton added 14, which included four 3-pointers.
The Warriors had to scrap to find their points but finally found a spark with freshman reserve Jillian Paulson.
Paulson scored 9 straight points between the third and fourth periods, and her final two gave the Warriors a 28-27 lead. Its first advantage since the first score of the game.
That burst, however, was not followed by anything else for Wheaton Academy, as Roberts and Somonauk finished off the Warriors.
"Spurts don't matter sometimes," Carwell said. "You have to be able to sustain it the whole game. It's a disappointing way to end the season, but when your shots don't fall, that's what happens. I'm proud of our girls. I'm proud we fought all game."
Despite the shortcomings Wheaton Academy kept at it on both ends of the floor. After Roberts scored 11 in the first quarter, the Warriors defense held her to 4 points combined in second and third quarters.
Four Warriors had multiple steals, led by Kelly Bickhart's 5. Imani Hillmer, Molly Venhuizen and Britta Swoboda had 2 apiece. Swoboda added 7 rebounds, while Jerilyn Blackmon chipped in 8 points.
It was the final game for Hillmer, Swoboda, Mia Cox, Shawna Gum and Elia Roys, but Carwell said she is looking forward to the program's future, especially because of how those five seniors are leaving it.
"Our shirts say 'family' on them for a reason," she said. "Our team is bigger than basketball and I'm thankful to coach a team like that. We care for each other. We've been with each other through a lot. It's more than the wins and losses this season."
Somonauk moves on to play Marian Central, the sectional's No. 4 seed, in a regional semifinal at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Wheaton Academy. No. 8 Aurora Central Catholic will play No. 1 Marengo at 6 p.m. in the other Wheaton Academy regional semifinal.