Trees, Libertyville stand tall against Fremd

The tale was in the Trees for Fremd on Thursday night.

Libertyville's Savannah Trees, that is. The junior guard had 25 points, 17 in the second half in an unconscious shooting performance to help the Wildcats break away from the Vikings and win the Class 4A Fremd regional 61-55 and earn a spot in Libertyville's sectional next week.

Trees had 15 of her points in the fourth quarter when Libertyville finally solved Fremd's defense after the Vikings (21-10) "controlled the game most of the way," according to coach David Yates.

That despite losing point guard Ashley McConnell to injury in the first quarter and having their depth subsequently thinned, and at so key a position. Especially with Trees running around throwing in everything.

"We had so much energy out there. I thought our defense took them out of their game," said the 5-foot-8 sharpshooter.

And that defense was centered around denying Fremd's season-long leader, Gianna Abruzzo. She was limited to 9 points, just 3 field goals, as Kaca Savatic played smothering defense and her teammates, especially 6-0 sisters Nicole and Leah Kruckman, doubled her around the post.

"They were playing tough defense. She (Savatic) never let down," Abruzzo said.

But after pretty much controlling the game for three quarters, "We broke down a little bit," said Yates. "Give credit to (Libertyville). They had one push and unfortunately it was when it mattered."

In the fourth quarter. After Trees and Fremd's Taylor Glassman (14 points) traded 3's to start, Trees paced a 10-2 run for a 51-42 lead by hitting a 3 and a drive while Leah Kruckman added a putback in relief of her foul-plagued sister. Abruzzo's subsequent putback and layin were the classic too little, too late.

"Our game plan was not to let her get the ball," Libertyville coach Katy Swanson said of the strategy of focusing on Abruzzo.

Her team happily goes home now for sectional play.

"We're so excited. We're very confident," Trees said of her 25-6 team.

Not quite the same mood for Fremd, although Abruzzo called this team "the most successful" in a long time, what with an MSL West title and 21 wins.

For Yates, who guided most of these girls as their freshman coach, "They were a blast to coach this year. We're obviously going to miss the seniors. To win 21 games and the MSL West, we're very proud."