Harper women to face Oakton
The Harper College women's basketball team (4-6) resumes action tonight against Oakton Community College at 5 p.m. in the first of two home games this week for the Hawks.
“They have good post (play)” said Harper coach Mark Smith of the opposition.
The Hawks may get an early Christmas gift, as Smith expects sophomore forward Sarah Kellermeyer to be cleared for tonight's game. Kellermeyer has been wearing a protective boot, has been out since hurting her ankle in the first half of the Hawks' 56-46 win over McHenry on Nov. 30.
In their most recent game, the Hawks lost 73-72 loss to Elgin Community College. It wasn't all bad news for Harper, though. Elgin's box-and-one defense could not stop sophomore Anna Kirchoff (Barrington) as she tied a career high with 33 points.
“I had to work for every shot. My team knew where I was,” Kirchoff said.
The Spartans lead by as much as 20 points in the first half, but the second half was a different story.
The Hawks had a 10-point lead at one point during the second half.
“I thought we had a nice second half; we should have won the game,” Smith said.
“It was so fun to be out there” Kirchoff said.
The Hawks host College of Lake County at 1 p.m. Saturday.
“I think we are getting better. Every team is a process,” said Smith.
Conference play begins Jan. 4 when Joliet Junior College host the Hawks.
“We are going to be ready (for conference)” Kirchoff said.
Mat update: The beat continued last weekend for the top-ranked Harper College wrestling team.
Heavyweight Adam Chalfant and Cari Washington both won their weight classes, while 157-pounders Mike Ryan took second and Mike Fredrick placed third. Head coach Dan Loprieno liked the way 149-pounder Alex Maynard (St. Charles East) wrestled.
“Our guys are starting to get it,” Loprieno said. “Nobody got hurt; that was the biggest thing.”
This week most of the team has the week off, while a select few will be going to DuBuque, Iowa to compete.
“Now this is all community colleges (the rest of the season),” Loprieno said.
The Hawks expect to have Arber Bebo (Addison Trail) back this week. He has been out of the lineup since hurting his elbow at the first meet of the season at Michigan State. Also returning from injury is 157-pounder PJ Stearns.
“Everything is going according to plan,” Loprieno said.
Men playing well: The Harper men's basketball team played its fourth game in eight days Tuesday night and defeated the Olivet Nazarene JV squad 73-57.
The Hawks are 3-0 against non-NJCAA schools this season.
Prior to Tuesdays' game, the Hawks had split a pair of games at the Kankakee Invite. On Friday, the Hawks defeated Illinois Central 77-51, and on Saturday the Hawks lost to Kankakee Community College 81-63; Kankakee is ranked 13th in this week's NJCAA Division I poll.
Champs: The NJCAA crowned a new football national champion Sunday in Pittsburg, Kansas. Juve Sanchez's 28-yard field goal with 1:11 left lifted Navarro (Texas) past top-ranked Butler Community College (Kansas) 13-12 in the Citizen's Bank Bowl.