Girls basketball: Fremd’s Thompson celebrates birthday with victory against Conant
Playing a high school girls basketball game for the first time on her birthday, Greta Thompson was never better.
The 5-foot-11 junior guard shot the ball seven times in the first half, making them all, including five 3-pointers, for a 19-point half.
That helped the Vikings' to a 38-11 lead on her 17th birthday en route to a 63-16 Mid-Suburban League West triumph against Conant in Hoffman Estates.
“My sister's (senior Ellie) birthday is tomorrow and usually it's her birthday when we play,” said a smiling Greta, who enjoyed her second-highest-scoring game with the game-high 19 points. “I had no idea this could happen on my birthday.”
For an exclamation point, Greta hit back-to-back 3-pointers to close out each of the first two quarters. In fact, her final one came at the second-quarter buzzer.
“And on that one she had the wherewithal to look up at the clock off a turnover and put up the shot,” said Fremd coach James Han. “It was a great night for her. I'm happy for her shooting so well. That's a big part of her game. We're going to need that down the stretch.”
Fremd (17-4, 6-0), the No. 5-ranked team in the Class 4A girls basketball poll, went into the second round of MSL play on Thursday as the No. 1 team in the West Division.
After a perfect 5-0 run through the West in the first half, the Vikings got the second half underway in solid fashion.
“We shot the ball really well,” Han said. “We've been really working to make sure that we are ready to go. We want to be playing disciplined and the right way all the time. Our focus has been to have the same mentality game in and game out.”
The Vikings' next game is against defending 4A champion Loyola (17-2) on Monday at Benet Academy.
“We are really looking forward to the Derril Kipp Hoopsfest,” Han said. “Derril (Maine West's late hall of fame coach) just like Dave (Yates, Fremd's late hall of fame coach) did so much for girls basketball so it's special to be part of that event. We are really looking forward to it. It's kind of a rematch (Fremd lost to Ramblers 43-40 in the 4A semifinals last season). Obviously, they're having a great season and still have excellent players back. They are well coached. It's always fun to play Loyola because they are so tough and challenging for us.”
Other top scorers for Fremd on Thursday were Ella Todd (11 points). She had one of the Vikings 11 3-pointers along with two from Ellie Thompson (7 points) and one apiece from Coco Urlacher (7 points), Bella Del Mar and Nicole Wulfram.
Conant (9-10, 3-3) was led by senior Kanna Bradarich (6 points) who had one 3-pointer along with junior teammate Gianna Fresso. Senior Kristina Tierney, sophomore Arianna Dugo and sophomore Annabel Danso also had buckets for the hosts.
Fremd raced ahead 12-0 in less than four minutes, getting a short bank shot from Ella Todd, a fast break layup by Greta Thompson, a 3-pointer by Ellie Thompson, a fastbreak layup by Todd and a 3-pointer by Greta Thompson with 5:49.
Bradarich got Conant on the scoreboard with a free throw at the 5:34 mark.
“Kanna has been amazing for us all season,” said Conant coach Todd Strauch. “Annabel and Gianna have really gotten better. And Arianna Dugo has stepped up. She is a great athlete who has really been aggressive and done a great job for us.
“When Fremd shoots the basketball like it did, there's nothing you can do about it. They're a great team and that's why.”