Highlanders earn tournament crown
On a night when nothing came easy for Driscoll, Kasey Reaber stole the show late.
The Highlanders' sophomore guard had two critical steals she turned into scores as Driscoll pulled away to beat Oak Park-River Forest 58-47 in Tuesday's championship of the Oswego East Holiday Tournament.
"I think the difference was we had a few nice defensive stands in the fourth quarter," Driscoll coach Steve McCuiston said, "and Kasey stepped up and we got some easy baskets. We were struggling to get the hard baskets. We got some easy baskets because of our defense."
Reaber, who scored 9 of her 17 points in the fourth quarter, turned one theft into a layup the other way to make it 46-39 with 3:42 left. The second made it 50-41 with less than three minutes to play. Driscoll's best perimeter defender also made 5 of 6 free throws in the fourth quarter to salt the game away.
"I just tried to get the ball back and not let them drive," Reaber said. "I work hard at defense. I was glad to get some steals."
Driscoll (14-0) came in seeking to avenge last year's overtime loss to Oak Park in the tournament final. The Huskies weren't in the giving mood.
The Highlanders led 22-21 at the half, and the lead bulged to 31-25 midway through the third quarter on an Allie Divito 3-pointer. But Oak Park (9-7) answered with six unanswered points, and Driscoll's lead was a tenuous 36-33 heading into the fourth. Two Kasey Reaber free throws and Taylor Reaber's basket off a feed from Courtney Lindfors put the Highlanders ahead 40-33 a minute into the final quarter.
Lindfors, the tournament MVP, battled her way to 20 points and 13 rebounds. She and Driscoll's other interior defenders had their hands full with Huskies' Gabby Cole and Brittany Smith. The two combined for 27 points and 23 rebounds, 12 of those boards offensive.
"No. 33 (Smith), she's a bull for 5-foot-9," McCuiston said.
Driscoll's win was its 14th straight by double figures, despite the struggle.
"It was a big motivation, to beat this team," Lindfors said. "We knew it was a rematch, and it seems like we lose to them all the time. It was good to come out with a win for once."