Full speed ahead for surging Naperville North
Twelve days ago Naperville North's Jacquie Discipio was a coach searching for answers.
Her 3-5 Huskies had just been humbled at home by Wheaton Warrenville South 69-41. A few team chemistry issues made for a combustible situation.
If it looked like a sinking ship, it's found its course.
Naperville North has since reeled off five straight wins, capped by a 3-0 weekend at the Benet/Naperville North Tournament.
"A lot of things are going our way right now," Discipio said. "The girls are in a good flow."
The trio of senior Shannon Bushman, freshman Kayla Sharples and junior Zoe Swift leads a dynamic, speedy bunch. Bushman scored 22 points against Plainfield Central, and 15 on Saturday to beat Glenbard West.
Sharples, a freshman highly touted by Discipio before the season, scored 25 points against Oswego East to start the current win streak, then had 22 against Providence last Friday and 14 versus Glenbard West.
"I knew that she would be good," Discipio said, "but she has really come into her own. She is such an explosive player; her vertical is through the roof. When she has the ball in her hands anywhere near the basket she is a threat. I think she is comfortable in her skin now with the girls and is hitting her stride."
Discipio also gave credit to the defense of sophomore Delaney White and senior Britney Weizeorick, who also tallied 20 points versus Providence. Naperville North held its three opponents last weekend to an average of 31 points per game.
In a 45-40 overtime win over DeKalb Friday, the Huskies held the Barbs to 3 points in the third quarter and 2 in overtime, turning the tables on a 57-39 loss to DeKalb in November.
The win streak will be put to the test Thursday against Geneva.
"They've just really been jelling," Discipio said. "I don't have to run a set all the time. They are just playing basketball and creating their own opportunities which makes us dynamic and difficult to stop."
Rams taking baby steps forward:
Last week was a good one for Glenbard East and first-year head coach Jennifer Ennis. The Rams, 0-9 until then, broke into the win column with a 47-43 win over Larkin at the Oswego Holiday Classic. Glenbard East also welcomed back senior guard Maggie Angst, who missed close to three weeks with nagging shin splints suffered during cross country season.
Angst played her first full game back against Larkin, but in a busy five-game week saw limited time against Wheaton North and Minooka.
"She was pretty sore by the end of the week, but dramatically different than before," Ennis said. "Her quickness and first step were back."
Glenbard East also lost 6-foot freshman center Allison Hansen to a hyperextended knee, but she should be back by the beginning of January. The Rams are off until Jan. 3, allowing Ennis to get back to the practice court and focus on skill work and scoring.
"We have some awesome things happening; they're just not happening for four quarters," Ennis said. "Even though our record is not fantastic we're playing some good basketball. I am seeing what I need to see I just need to see more of it."
Indeed, Glenbard East led Wheaton North 15-11 after a quarter and trailed by just 2 after three quarters at Oswego. Angst's return takes pressure off sophomore guard Ellie Donovan, who is knocking down shots and scored in double figures against Wheaton North and Minooka. Ennis is pleased to see sophomore Kelly Eberle taking it to the basket more.
"The Oswego tournament was really good for us," Ennis said. "Sometimes in our conference it's difficult to evaluate things. Even the times where we weren't playing fantastic last week, we were making good decisions."
Knights building confidence:
If you ask Immaculate Conception coach Aubree Lawrence, it all starts with confidence for her girls. The Knights lost winnable games earlier in the year against Kaneland and Wheaton Academy en route to a 4-3 start. Since then IC has won four straight, the biggest a 37-23 victory over crosstown rival Timothy Christian.
"Something they struggled with in the past is believing they are a good team," Lawrence said. "They starting to realize that they can play with the best of them, compete and win."
Egos are checked at the door in Elmhurst. Jennifer Clementi is scoring 8.3 points per game, followed close behind by Kellyanne Remy (7.7 ppg and team-best 5 rebounds per game), Kaleigh Dempsey (7.0 ppg), Grace Vitek (5.9 ppg) and Brittney Reaber (4.9 ppg).
Reaber is nursing a high ankle sprain, but should be back for next week's Lisle Cage Classic.
"They're playing as a team, and aren't concerned with who is scoring the points," Lawrence said. "They really enjoy being around each other."
IC gets a week off now for practice and final exams before opening against Illiana Christian next Tuesday at Lisle. It shapes up as a closely-contested field there, Timothy Christian the top seed. IC won it two years ago, and took the consolation championship last year.
"Anything can happen there on any given day," Lawrence said. "I expect us to make a nice solid run, but that is up to us."
Bizarre finish at ZB:
Just when you think you've heard it all, you haven't.
Warren came back to beat Zion-Benon 43-40 in overtime last Tuesday in a truly bizarre finish.
After the horn sounded to end the fourth quarter, Warren was walking off the court two-point losers when a technical foul was called on a Z-B assistant coach for arguing an over-the-line, free-throw violation call originally made with 8.5 seconds left. Warren made the 2 free throws with all 0s on the clock to force overtime, where the Devils won.
"I've been coaching for 30 years and I've never seen a game end like that," Warren coach John Stanczykiewicz was quoted as saying afterward.
It was Yogi Berra who coined the phrase "it ain't over 'til it's over."
What would Yogi say about this one?