Lake Park keeps Neuqua focused on the present
OK, you can start making your plans for Thursday night.
Neuqua Valley, the Daily Herald’s No. 7 team, travels to No. 2 Waubonsie Valley, for their first District 204 showdown of the season. Game time is 7:15.
But before the Wildcats could even think about that contest, there was business to attend to Tuesday night against Lake Park on the Neuqua court.
The Lancers forced the Wildcats to give them their undivided attention and were a thorn in Neuqua’s side until the very end when the Wildcats prevailed 54-47.
Neuqua coach Mike Williams said it’s all part of a young team trying to get through a big week with some tough opponents.
“If you are a parent or coach young kids long enough you know of the ups and downs, the emotions,” he said. “We had a tough game last night (44-38 win over Naperville Central). Kids are back in school, they see the rankings. I think they learned tonight that you can’t take any game for granted.”
After Neuqua (15-1, 4-1 Upstate Eight Valley) led 12-10 after the first quarter, the Lancers (7-9, 1-5) established a consistent offense with strong rebounding and would lead in boards 14-9 at halftime.
A free throw by Nicole Moore had Lake Park up by as much as six before Neuqua closed out the second period on a 7-2 run.
The Lancers went into the contest without three players injured during Saturday’s 52-44 win at St. Francis.
“It was a gutsy performance. But there were too many turnovers at the start,” Lake Park coach Andrea Miller said. “We played better than the first time we faced them (a 55-39 loss, Nov. 30). There were breakdowns here and there and they added up and cost us.
“Neuqua is a good team. They come at you and at you and wear you down.”
The Wildcats’ offense heated up in the third for an 18-point output to lead 41-35 on 7-of-16 shooting. The Lancers shot a respectable 4 of 9, but the Wildcats defense clearly limited the Lake Park scoring opportunities.
Neuqua led by as much as 12 in the final quarter. The Lancers would not go away completely, however, as Alyssa Hernandez coverted a layup with just less than 15 seconds left to put her team to within 5.
Alexis Hahn led all scorers with 15 points and also had 10 rebounds.
For Neuqua, senior Megan Doody paced the Wildcats off the bench with 11 points, including two 3-point baskets in the pivotal third quarter.
Teammates Amarah Coleman and Allison Hedrick each had 8 points.
Lake Park returns to action Friday night with a 7:30 home game. Meanwhile, Williams said the Wildcats will be ready for Thursday night.
“We’re young, but we have some great leaders that are not necessarily the ones that play all the time. We’ll be OK. I have faith in them,” he said.