Hersey holds on to win Season’s End
The end of the Season’s End Tournament could not have been more exciting.
Oak Park-River Forest standout junior guard Stekara Hall scored 17 of her game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter as her team made a frantic comeback from a 15-point deficit to defending champ Hersey.
Hall’s 3 free throws with 27.4 seconds left brought Oak Park (14-10) to within 58-56.
But Hersey senior Eileen Zydek sank 1 of 2 free throws with 17.5 left and junior Jen Hall added a pair with 5.5 remaining to give Hersey a 61-56 triumph and its third straight tourney title on Monday night in Bensenville.
Not to be outdone in the scoring column was Hersey senior Megan Rogowski, who tossed in 27 points with four 3-pointers.
“They put good pressure on us at the end,” Rogowski said of Oak Park’s late burst. “Props to Oak Park. They had good defenders.”
And Hersey (19-5) had its quality defender in Zydek (11 points), who guarded the speedy Hall all evening.
“I love the challenge,” Zydek said. “She’s one of the best I’ve guarded this season.”
“That kid Eileen chased around all night is great,” said Hersey coach Mary Fendley. “I think Eileen is as good a defensive player as there is in the area. I want to call Eileen our defensive MVP in all three of our tournaments this season.”
Junior Maggie Hogen (6 points) pulled down a team-high 14 rebounds for the Huskies while Stefanie Mueller had 12 along with 7 points.
“It was little nerve-wracking at the end,” Mueller said. “But we stayed composed. Their press scared us a little but we figured it out.”
Stekara Hall, who had four 3-pointers, missed a fifth one with seven seconds left that would have tied the game. Instead, Hersey’s 5-foot-5 Hall got the rebound and was fouled.
Hersey defeated Oak Park 83-55 for the title last year.
“We like this one (tourney),” Zydek said. “The first part of it is at our home (three pool-play games). So we like to get the job done when we finish here (at Fenton High School).”
Hersey led 21-9 with under four minutes left in the first half. Hall had all 9 points for Oak Park.
“We didn’t hit any shots in the first half (7-of-34),” said Oak Park coach Bob Biggins. “I was very proud of our comeback.
“Rogowski is tremendous. I’ve watched her for four years now. You give her an inch, and she’ll score.”
Rolling Meadows 48, St. Viator 32: Sophomore Morgan Keller (12 points), freshman Jenny Vliet (8) and freshman Jackie Kemph (8) led Meadows (16-7) to third place in the Season’s End tourney.
“We buckled down defensively in the second quarter (Mustangs won it 6-1),” said Meadows coach Todd Hatfield. “I felt like Jackie and Morgan picked up right where they left off from our Hersey game (Friday night) and helped set the pace for us.”
All-tourney selections Kemph and Keller combined for 10 of the Mustangs’ 17 points in the first quarter.
St. Viator (11-13) was led by Katie Gavin (11 points), Lauren Rooney (7) and Taylor Skala (6).
Rooney and Skala were named to the all-tourney team.