Girls basketball: Fremd bounces back from Kenwood loss
How's this for symmetry?
Fremd's Ella Todd, who wears No. 22 for her girls basketball team and flag football team, will attend her first NFL football game on the 22nd of December when the Bears host the Detroit Lions.
On that day, the Bears are scheduled to honor Fremd's state championship flag football team which also includes Todd (wide receiver), junior guard Lily Mayer (quarterback) and junior forward Bella Del Mar (wide receiver/quarterback).
But for now, that trio has switched from the gridiron to the hardwood and not much has changed. They're still winning plenty of games and playing for a state-ranked girls basketball team.
Coach James Han's Vikings raised their record 9-2 and 2-0 in the Mid-Suburban West on Friday night with a 64-29 triumph over Conant (4-5, 1-1) in Palatine.
Utah basketball pledge Todd led with a game-high 19 points followed by classmate Coco Urlacher with 11. Greta Thompson and Gracie Todd had 6 apiece as 10 Vikings scored, including a layup by Mayer.
"It's really nice being on this team," said Mayer, who completed plenty of passes to Ella Todd and Del Mar in the flag football team's state title run in October. "It's really fun in practice going against my teammates because they're really good and make me much better in basketball."
Mayer also plays forward for the Vikings' girls soccer team which took third in the state last spring.
"It was kind of a surprise for Lily to come out for basketball," Han said. "She didn't say she was going to but she showed up at tryouts. I was so glad to have her because she brings us a championship presence. And she works hard and is a good player."
Todd had 7 points, Greta and Ellie Thompson each hit 3-pointers and Anna Montello had a layup off an assist from Todd during the Vikings' 15-2 run to start the game.
'We've just got to execute the scout and be ready to go right at the start if we want to get to where we want," Han said. "On Tuesday (69-63 loss to state-ranked Kenwood) we weren't ready and went down 23-5. That can't happen against good teams. We got it down to 4 points but ran out of gas. You can't start games like that against a good team."
Conant played without senior starter Kristina Tierney, who injured her ankle last week against Schaumburg.
"I know they were without one of their top players and it's too bad," Han said. "We'd love to see them again with Kristina Tierney and them at full strength. (Conant coach) Todd (Strauch) does a great job with this group and we have to be prepared for anybody."
"She (Tierney) brings a little size to us and a little toughness," Strauch said. "I thought early they really hurt us on rebounds. Kristina would have helped with that plus just her senior leadership would have helped with our discipline and things like getting us under control.
"But credit to Fremd. They're fast, physical and very skilled. We play a tough schedule and we do it for a reason. It's nice to get some learning early and get ready for the playoffs."
Junior forward Lyla Clifton paced Conant with 10 points followed by sophomore forward Annabel Danso (8) and junior guard Gianna Fresso (6).
"We have some ability and we are learning what it takes to beat good teams at the varsity level," Strauch added. "I think Lyla Clifton has played well all season and Kanna Bradarich (senior guard) is really a great player. She gets us settled, takes care of the basketball and does so many good things for us."