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Girls basketball: Libertyville blitzes Stevenson early, bounces back from double overtime loss

There was little rest for Libertyville in what has been a wicked early season girls basketball schedule.

The Wildcats had less than 24 hours to recover from a double-overtime loss to Prospect at Lake Zurich’s Exam Jamm. Waiting for them on Wednesday night was defending North Suburban Conference champion Stevenson.

Libertyville hardly looked rundown as it raced out to a 23-2 lead and a 52-25 home victory in a matchup of teams that won the last six NSC crowns.

“My body was feeling a little rough but we got prepared,” said Libertyville sophomore Lily Fisher. “Our energy was definitely high in warmups and the shootaround.”

It continued into a spirited 32-minute effort where Fisher had 17 points and 8 rebounds. The Wildcats (6-4, 3-0) scored the first 9 points and started a running clock for the final 7:35 with a 46-16 lead on a layup by Sophia Cesnovar (10 points).

Guards Sophia Swanson (7 points, 5 assists) and Elinor Lindal fueled a tenacious man-to-man defensive effort where Stevenson (4-3, 2-1) committed 9 of its 18 turnovers in the opening blitz. Maddie Sears (6 points, 10 rebounds) and Ella Pawelczyk (5 assists) played big roles in Libertyville’s fifth game in nine days that also included a Saturday loss to unbeaten Waubonsie Valley.

“We knew we had to come out with energy and confidence and play good defense,” Swanson said.

“I anticipated the first three minutes, them trying to run us off the floor,” said Libertyville coach Greg Pedersen. “I was impressed with the resolve they showed and the energy they played with.”

Consecutive 3s by Pawelczyk and Cesnovar made it 23-2 just 16 seconds into the second quarter. A 3-point play by Stevenson’s Nisha Musunuri (12 points, 5 rebounds) ended a 14-point run.

“They were super, super disruptive on defense,” said Stevenson coach Regan Carmichael. “They just played double overtime and the fact they were able to come out here like that is an impressive showing. We just kind of folded under their pressure.”

Stevenson got within 28-13 at halftime. Libertyville came out recharged as Fisher scored the first 7 points in a 9-0 run capped by the 5-foot-4 Swanson slipping inside for a rebound basket.

“We always talk about the first three minutes of every quarter and half being so important and they got the better of us tonight,” Carmichael said.

Stevenson shot just 4-for-22 from the field in the first three quarters before finishing 8-for-30.

“When our defense is high our offense is good,” Fisher said.

“This was one of our best games defensively,” Swanson said. “We knew we could do it because our schedule has prepared all of us.”

Now the Wildcats get a little break before they have to do it again in a big NSC game Friday at Lake Zurich.

  Libertyville’s Lily Fisher calls a play against Stevenson in a girls basketball game in Libertyville on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Stevenson’s Alexa Karcz loses the ball as she is surrounded by Libertyville’s Madison Sears and Lily Fisher, right, in a girls basketball game in Libertyville on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville’s Sophia Swanson tries to get to the ball dribbled by Stevenson’s Sydney Rosland in a girls basketball game in Libertyville on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville’s Sophia Cesnovar steals the ball from Stevenson’s Megs Seribo in a girls basketball game in Libertyville on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville’s Sophia Cesnovar and Madison Sears, right, applaud after Stevenson’s Nora Maloney was called for a double-dribble in a girls basketball game in Libertyville on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville’s Sophia Swanson shoots as she is fouled by Stevenson’s Sydney Rosland in a girls basketball game in Libertyville on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
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