Round Lake rallies, but Wheeling holds on, snaps skid
Wheeling's girls basketball team traveled to Round Lake to play its third game in as many nights on Wednesday.
Round Lake hadn't played a game since Nov. 21 - in a win versus ... Wheeling.
The squad that should've been tired bested the rested team Wednesday night. Wheeling held on for a 38-33, nonconference victory, after zipping to a 20-6 lead in the second quarter, watching the host Panthers knot it a 24 in the third quarter, and edging Round Lake 7-5 in the final frame.
"We were ready to run," Wheeling senior guard Marlena Miloucheva said after the Wildcats (2-7) halted their losing streak at 4 games. "(Tuesday night), in our loss to Barrington, we had high energy. Tonight, I liked our energy and how positive we stayed, even after Round Lake's run (9-0) at the beginning of the second half."
Miloucheva ate salmon and broccoli before the rematch Wednesday night.
"Sleep well, eat healthy," she said. "That's what I try to do during the season.
"My mom (Renata) is a very good cook."
Renata's daughter charred the nets after the meal, pouring in the game's first 7 points and tallying the Wildcats' last 7 points en route to a game-high total of 22. Freshman guard Ellie Vito dished a pair of assists on Miloucheva fast-break buckets in the first quarter.
Vito hit a three-pointer at 3:39 of the second quarter to give Wheeling its biggest lead - 20-6 - of the night.
But Round Lake (2-3) didn't buckle. Panthers senior guard Tia Barnes (team-high 15 points, 11 rebounds) struck for 7 points in the first of two 9-0 runs by the hosts.
"We don't give up," Panthers coach Molly Hennig said.
Wheeling led 24-15 at the half.
Round Lake then got 5 more points from Barnes in its second 9-0 spurt.
Wheeling freshman guard Kate Ning (4 points, 6 rebounds) tallied the visitors' first points of the second half via a 3, making it a 27-24 game. A free throw from Round Lake senior guard/forward Judith Cerroblanco (9 points, 10 rebounds) pared Wheeling's lead to 29-28 in the final minute of the third quarter.
"We kept our composure at 24-24, which was nice to see because we're such a young team (four freshmen on varsity)," said Wheeling coach Kellie Braase, whose crew fell to Round Lake 43-36 in the Maine East tournament on Nov. 21. "We made smarter passes.
"We're learning, growing."
Miloucheva scored the first 5 points (3-pointer, field goal) of the final stanza, expanding the advantage to 36-28. The hosts got as close as 36-33, thanks to a putback by Cerroblanco at the 1:19 mark.
The 5-foot-9 Miloucheva - who amassed a program-record 48 points in a game last winter - capped the night's scoring with a pair of free throws with 20 ticks left.
"Such a great leader," Braase said of the poised Miloucheva, who also grabbed 6 rebounds. "Marlena picks up her teammates, and encourages them, when she's not creating opportunities for herself."
Wheeling senior guard Kaitlyn Fielding finished with 5 points and 8 boards. Freshman teammate Madison Rourke, a 5-10 center, came down with 7 rebounds.
Panthers junior guard Lisette Herrera had 7 points, and freshman guard Brianna Arteaga snared all 8 of her rebounds in the first half.
"We were right there, but we couldn't get over the hump," Hennig said. "We missed some layups and had some good looks.
"Wheeling finished stronger than we did."