Fundraising makes game a success
Rare is a gym packed for Saturday afternoon girls basketball.
But then the cause at Wheaton North was far more significant than a game.
On Saturday the Falcons program held “Victory for Jack Day” with fundraising events held in conjunction with the game to raise proceeds toward the Jack Pribaz Foundation.
Jack Pribaz, the 2-year-old son of Wheaton North assistant Mike Pribaz, has been diagnosed with the rare KCNQ2 gene that is linked to epilepsy. The newly formed foundation will raise money toward research of this gene.
Support turned out in full force Saturday, some 1,800 fans — many wearing army green Jack’s Army T-shirts. Before the game Wheaton North’s fieldhouse was filled for a kids shooting clinic conducted by Comcast SportsNet personalities Kendall Gill and Sarah Kustok, who stuck around for a shooting contest at halftime.
“It was more than we could have imagined,” Mike Pribaz said. “We knew it was going to be a special day with all the planning and all that people were doing behind the scenes. We are kind of relieved to have a break now, but we’re not going to stop fighting this.”
On the court West Aurora held off a second-half Falcons rally for a 50-43 win.
Wheaton North coach Dave Eaton didn’t like that result but couldn’t have been more pleased with the outcome of Saturday’s event.
“I told the girls that 10 years from now they’re not going to remember what the final score was,” Eaton said, “but they will remember this day. We didn’t play fantastic today, but the important thing is what happened today. It was great to see the community pull together. I’m excited for Mike and his family.”
West Aurora (11-10, 4-6 DuPage Valley Conference) starts three sophomores and a freshman but didn’t flinch in front of a huge crowd.
The Blackhawks, who took third at the Wheaton North holiday tournament in December, looked right at home in Wheaton again, jumping out to a 28-16 halftime lead behind five 3-pointers. Three were hit by freshman guard Alexis Wiggins.
“This was our third time playing in front of a crowd like this,” Blackhawks coach Connie Siljendahl said. “We played at Northern (Illinois University) before the boys and another game with Naperville North before the boys. I just told them before the game, ‘Pretend that these are your fans, your court, your game,’ and they did.”
The margin got as wide at 30-16, but Wheaton North (12-12, 6-5) answered with a 12-0 run capped by a Jaquala Hillman breakaway basket. Blackhawks sophomore Taylor Jacobsen came right back with a driving layup, and had two more scores in the fourth quarter when Wheaton North twice made it a one-possession game.
“Taylor was struggling at the beginning of the season,” Siljendahl said. “She’s on her way back up now.”
A Maddie Baillie 3-pointer got Wheaton North within 44-41 with 4:44 left, but the Falcons managed just one basket the rest of the way. Cold shooting hurt Wheaton North, which went 3 of 17 from 3-point range and made just 2 of 7 free throws.
“We never really got into a rhythm,” Eaton said. “You got to credit West Aurora’s defense. Today wasn’t our day.”
Jacobsen scored 12 points and Zeitz 11 points for West Aurora. Mandy Traversa led Wheaton North with 12 points.