Bulldogs in great shape

When she served as an assistant coach under Tim Bartusch, Jaime Weber was responsible for conditioning.

So consider it no surprise that in Weber's first season as Wauconda's head girls basketball coach, she claims her Bulldogs are "probably in the best shape they can be in."

That's not shocking either, as with only 10 girls on the roster, the players are constantly moving.

"They're always in a drill," Weber said Tuesday night after her Bulldogs nearly ran North Chicago out of its own gym, winning 55-34 to set up a winner-take-all battle with North Suburban Prairie co-leader Round Lake in the two teams' divisional finale Saturday.

"They don't get a break in practice," Weber continued. "Our practices are always up-tempo. They don't get that break time where they stand on the sidelines while another group comes in and does something. We don't have another group."

As evident against North Chicago (3-7 NSC Prairie) - which was led by Tatyana Webb's 17 points and 9 rebounds - Wauconda (18-3, 10-1) doesn't lack athletes. Despite playing with only eight girls, the Bulldogs barely broke a sweat in building a 30-11 edge by halftime.

Kate Martino, who led the Bulldogs in scoring with 17 points, was one of three players on her team to record 4 steals. Tammy Ellis and Aimee Prudhomme were the others. Lauren Mead (9 points) and Ellis (7) had 12 and 10 rebounds, respectively. Mead also had 3 blocks.

"We have a quick team," Martino said. "We need to use it (quickness)."

That's been a point of emphasis for the Bulldogs the last couple of weeks, Weber said. As if playing with a sense of urgency, Wauconda bolted to a 16-0 lead against North Chicago and was up 18-4 after one quarter, as Martino scored 8 points.

"We have the players to do it," Weber said of playing up-tempo. "We need to take advantage of the odd-man breaks and not give (the opposition) time to set up in their defense."

When Wauconda hosted North Chicago on Jan. 6, the Bulldogs led 22-9 at halftime. But they suffered what Weber called a "second-half" collapse," before holding on for a 44-39 win.

"We just didn't push (the tempo)," Martino said.

Wauconda knows it will have to be on top of its game Saturday when its visits Round Lake for a 2:30 p.m. game. The Panthers are also 10-1 in the NSC Prairie after beating Grant 52-47 Tuesday night.

Round Lake won the first meeting, on Jan. 8, 45-42.

"We have to shut down (Labrenthia) Murdock," Martino said. "She's obviously their go-to girl. It's at their place so I'm sure the place will be packed. Not good for us. We'll have people there, though."