Maine South repeats narrow win over Stevenson
Day three of the Grow The Game Festival featured 14 games split between a pair of West Suburban Conference schools, Hinsdale Central and Downers Grove South.
One of those games featured a rematch from the previous Saturday's Charger-Komaromy Holiday Tournament at Dundee-Crown between Maine South and Stevenson.
"We have this quote, don't stop when you're tired, stop when you're done," Stevenson coach Regan Carmichael said. "We took that (saying) to the team at the Dundee-Crown Tournament and this shootout has been kind of similar to it. When it's been that we're tired, (we've) played a lot of games in the last couple of days we don't stop when we're tired, we stop when we're done."
Stevenson never stopped playing despite trailing by as many as 15 points in the second half Saturday.
It rallied to within three before Maine South pulled just enough away to emerge victorious 44-39 for its second win over the Patriots this season to move its mark to 18-0.
The Hawks had won 49-46 in Carpentersville the previous Saturday.
"Hats off to Stevenson, they're really good and they are for a reason," Maine South coach Jeff Hamann said. "We took a nice lead but then they kept at us and upped their defensive pressure and when that happens that puts a lot of teams into turning (the ball) over. When a play needed to be made, we were able to do it. When they made a run, we responded. That's what good teams do."
The Hawks went on a 12-4 run in the second quarter to build a 20-12 halftime advantage. They followed by ringing up the first 7 points of the third to expand their lead to 27-12 on two of team-leading scorer Ally Pape's 9 from inside the paint with 4:14 left in the quarter.
They would take a 32-24 edge into the fourth when Stevenson (15-3) went on a 10-5 run to close the gap within 37-34 on five straight points by game-leading scorer Emory Klatt (14 points, 12 rebounds) including a three-point play with 3:10 remaining.
It was at that point that back-to-back baskets from Ava Blagojevich and a steal, drive, and layup by Meegan Fahy put the Hawks back up 42-34 with 2:15 left establishing enough of a space cushion to hold on.
Central to Maine South's success was its ability to control the boards as it out-rebounded the Pats 27-23 led by 5-foot-11 junior Caitlyn Leyden's 12.
"Honestly, my main goal is always (to treat) the ball as gold," said Leyden, who added 8 points to the winning effort that earned co-player of the game honors.
"For me everytime it (the ball) goes up there it's like my main goal to get it. I knew that Klatt is obviously a great rebounder, she's one of the best I'll ever play (against). Boxing her out once the shot goes up. Finding (her) was definitely the main goal especially with my teammates and we accomplished it."
Southern Illinois-Edwardsville signee Fahy along with guard Katie Barker joined Leyden with 8 points for the Hawks while junior guard Nisha Musunuri earned co-player of the game honors for the Patriots with 8 points.
Fellow Stevenson teammate Emma Brooks also tallied 8 points in a reserve role while senior Patriots guard Kendell Williams put together a 4-point, 6-rebound effort.