Ross’ defensive effort lifts Burlington Central
Kayla Ross knew what she had to do Saturday, and the Burlington Central sophomore was up to the challenge.
Ross was assigned to shut down Sycamore sharpshooter Bailey Gilbert in Saturday’s final pool play game of the Central Thanksgiving Tournament. Shut Gilbert down she did, holding the Spartan junior to just 7 points on 2 of 8 shooting as the Rockets (3-0) earned a hard-fought 41-37 win, putting them in Tuesday’s 7:30 p.m. championship game against Machesney Park Harlem. BC lost the title game to Belvidere North last year.
“I only had one job and that was to stop (Gilbert) from shooting and I shut her down,” Ross said. “I stayed in front of her and got around the screens.”
Ross and junior Alison Colby each had 8 points to lead Central’s balanced scoring. Sophomores Shelby Holt and Sam Pryor added 7 points each and sophomore Sam Cruz made 2 free throws with 6.8 seconds to play to seal the win for the Rockets, who had a 9-point lead early in the fourth quarter but then had to hang on for dear life at the end.
“You want to play close games and learn how to close them out,” Central coach Mark Smith said. “We made a few bad decisions down the stretch but Sam made the big free throws and we kept our composure enough to pull it out.”
The Rockets led 20-16 at halftime and extended it to a 32-23 advantage by the end of the third quarter. They still led 36-27 after 2 free throws by Ross with 6:38 to play but Sycamore (2-1) went on a 7-0 run and the Rockets didn’t score for over three minutes until Pryor drained a 3-pointer with 3:34 left on a kick out from Ross to make it 39-34. Each team then missed a shot and turned the ball over once until Spartans’ sophomore Lauren Goff (13 points) nailed a 3-pointer with 45 seconds left that made it a 39-37 game.
Central turned the ball over on its next possession but Gilbert missed an off-balance 3-pointer and Cruz got the rebound and was fouled with 6.8 seconds to go. Her free throws put the game out of reach for Sycamore.
“The game ball today goes to Kayla Ross,” Smith said. “She shut (Gilbert) down. We know Bailey can shoot and Kayla played outstanding defense on her.
“All the sophomores are playing with so much more confidence. I have to keep reminding myself they’re sophomores.”
Smith would have liked it a little better if his team had shown a bit more patience when it got the 9-point lead.
“When you have a nine-point lead you want to make 10 passes and go for a layup,” he said.
The Rockets shot 14-for-38 from the field while Sycamore was 13 of 33. BC had a huge 24-12 advantage on the boards. Colby had 9 rebounds to lead the way.
“Alison’s rebounding has been fantastic,” Smith said.
“We’re very pleased. We’re proud and happy to be playing in the championship game Tuesday night.”