Stevenson’s defense stymies Rolling Meadows
Dundee-Crown will be hosting back-to-back Class 4A basketball regionals over the next couple of weeks after the sudden passing of longtime public address announcer Chuck Feldman on Sunday at the age of 61.
“It stinks," Stevenson coach Regan Carmichael said upon her arrival at the Chargers Fieldhouse prior to her team's regional final tilt with Rolling Meadows Thursday evening.
With Dundee Middle School ELA teacher John Blomquist behind the microphone, those in attendance saw Carmichael's first Patriots unit put on a dominant defensive performance in cruising to a 32-17 victory.
The win earned the Patriots their second regional plaque in three years and 16th overall in school history.
It also sends them to Tuesday night's second Fremd sectional semifinal against the winner of Friday's Elgin regional championship between No. 3 Hersey (21-9) and No. 6 Barrington (17-11).
Just how dominant was second-seeded Stevenson (28-3) on the defensive end?
Led by their starting five of senior center Emory Klatt, senior forward Laurel Jewell, and guards Kendall Williams (senior), Nisha Musunuri and Sydney Rosland (both juniors), consider these statistics …
* It held Meadows to just 6-37 (16%) shooting from the field and 4-10 (40%) from the free-throw line.
* The No. 7 seeded Mustangs (22-9) missed their first 18 attempts until a Ciara McMahon (team-high 9 points) three-pointer went in with only 57 ticks left until the break.
* The Patriots outrebound Meadows 29-13 led by Klatt (game-high 10 points) whose 11 boards allowed the DePaul recruit move into the all-time Top 20 leading rebounders in Illinois.
“Credit to my coaching staff. Credit to my girls," Carmichael said prior to cutting down the net at the south end of the court.
“We had a game plan and we followed it. Really, really proud of the effort that came from everybody tonight. Nisha, incredible work just doing what she does, Kendall just being the leader, Sydney great minutes with the defense on (McMahon), Laurel just battling in the post. Also credit to the scout team — the kids that don't get in. They're running the Rolling Meadows stuff. Things that make the difference."
It was Stevenson getting off to an 11-1 advantage after one that started when Musunuri (8 points, 5 rebounds) connected with back-to-back hoops to commence the scoring as they were never were in any danger.
“At practice yesterday we spent a whole hour and a half working on our defenses," Musunuri said as she waited for her opportunity to cut down a share of the net.
“I think that's (what) we've been known for the entire year. Our defense and how we switch them up so quickly to the point if which the (opposing) offense doesn't know what to do. I think we place a lot of pride on how we play defense."
Meadows coach Ryan Kirkosky also gave Stevenson's defense high praise.
“They defended like that pretty much all season from everything I've seen a lot of them (on video). They're a locked-in defensive team. They're athletic and they're strong. Obviously we could've done things better executing. We could've made some more shots but I really give my hat off to Stevenson for their defensive effort.“