Rosary gets big conference win over IC
Rosary coach Dave Beebe wasn't naive enough to think that Immaculate Conception would go down without a fight.
"Maybe with some lesser teams we can maybe pull away," Beebe said, "but I honestly didn't think with a 14-point lead we were going to come out and bury these guys. I was hoping we could, but I knew better."
Beebe's Royals indeed held off a Knights rally from down 14 in the second half for a 38-32 Rosary win on Saturday in Aurora.
Jordan Rettig scored 16 points and pulled down 15 rebounds for Rosary (16-4, 5-1 Suburban Christian Blue). She was excited to knock off a No. 10 IC team whose only two previous losses came to top-ranked Montini.
"It's a great win, especially since they have such a great record and were in the rankings," Rettig said. "Big for us, especially being in conference."
IC (19-3, 3-3) twice pulled within 5 in the fourth quarter, the second time on a Kasey Reaber free throw with 41 seconds left. IC got the ball back after a Rosary turnover, but Reaber missed a runner and Rettig split two free throws.
The Knights could not overcome a woeful first half. IC made just 3 field goals, turned the ball over 14 times and gave up 13 offensive rebounds in the first half to go into the break down 19-7.
IC coach Dan Murray even made the unorthodox call to substitute all five players early in the second quarter, to no avail.
"I take full responsibility for this loss," Murray said. "It's my responsibility to have my team ready to play, to be focused and have our game plan in. We appeared to not be ready to play at all. That's on my shoulders as a head coach. We'll get back to work on Monday and hopefully find some answers."
Not helping IC's cause was the weakened condition of leading scorer and rebounder Taylor Reaber. The Knights senior came down ill Thursday at practice and could only play sparingly Saturday. Reaber, who looked visibly sick on the bench, finished with 5 points and 5 rebounds and sat for much of IC's late comeback.
"I give that kid so much credit," Murray said. "You can see her sitting over a garbage can over on the bench, and yet she tried to play today. That's just the kind of leader she is for us."
With Reaber, IC's best post player, slowed Rosary hammered IC on the boards to the tune of 43-25. Rettig led that charge.
"Having a big size advantage obviously helps us," the 6-foot Rettig said, "but I also think boxing out and being aware of where the ball is on the floor also helps, too."
Rosary finished the first quarter with a 7-0 run to pull ahead 12-5. A Rettig score with 5:11 left in the third quarter gave the Royals their biggest lead at 23-9. IC pressured Rosary into eight third-quarter turnovers, closing to within 25-18. Breann Maryanski and Stephanie Haugen each added 9 points for Rosary. Kasey Reaber paced IC with 13 points - 9 in the fourth quarter - and 5 rebounds. Erin Dunne added 6 points.