Fremd vaults to share of MSL West title
There is one play the Hoffman Estates girls basketball team runs that the Fremd coaches and players calls "elevator."
"The way the screens close it looks like an elevator," said Fremd senior standout Gianna Abruzzo.
By the end of Tuesday's night showdown, Abruzzo and her Vikings were the ones going straight up.
To the top of the Mid-Suburban West standings.
With a 39-34 victory over visiting Hoffman Estates, the Vikings (19-8, 8-1) took over sole possession of first place.
They clinched at a least a tie for first as the Hawks and Barrington are each 7-2 with one game to play.
The Vikings can clinch their first appearance in the MSL title game since 2004 with a victory at Conant on Friday.
"It's not over yet," said Abruzzo, who scored a game-high 21 points, including her team's first 10 points when it took a 10-4 lead.
Senior Taylor Glassmann added 9 points for the winners despite playing with an illness and getting frequent rests from coach Dave Yates.
"That's a credit to her," Yates said. "She knew it was a big game and she stepped up. I can't tell you how proud I am of her. This shows how tough a kid she is."
The Vikes played tough defense all the way and led 36-32 after sophomore Mary Pettit's bank shot with 1:48 left.
Fremd missed consecutive front ends of bonus free throws before Megan Gray got a big rebound and converted 2 free throws for a 38-32 lead with 24 seconds remaining.
"Megan played awesome defense in the post," Abruzzo said "We just had great team defense. Our guards (Bridget Kubis, Ashley McConnell and Glassman) did a great job pressuring them up top."
Megan Bernardoni's 16-footer with 4.2 seconds left made it 38-34 before McConnell's free throw with 3.2 seconds left capped the scoring."
Junior Jada Stotts led Hoffman (19-6) with 11 points while Pettit finished with 9.
"We just didn't play smart," said Hawks coach Mike Nocella. "We didn't adjust to the refs. They (officials) were good. I have no complaints.
"I'm glad the game was called the way it was. When you get two fouls on you, you just have to be smart and can't be reaching."
O'Connell had 3 assists for Fremd while Kubis hit a big 3-pointer in the second quarter as part of an 8-3 run for Fremd to close the half.
"I'm so happy for our seniors," Yates said. "They have been right there for a chance to win the championship the last two years.
"How impressive were Gianna and Taylor? They scored 30 of our 39 points Now they have it (chance to win title outright) in their own hands (Friday night)."