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Fremd measures up against Johnsburg

Johnsburg girls basketball coach Brad Frey was well aware of the team he was playing for the championship of the Turkey Thriller at Lake Zurich High School on Wednesday night.

"I've read the papers," he said. "And they're (Fremd) all over the place."

Just like the Vikings seemed to be all over the place on defense.

Fremd greeted the Skyhawks with full-court pressure, half-court pressure and a regular defense in the first quarter.

The Vikings limited Johnsburg to just 3 field goals and 5 free throws in the first half (12 points) en route to a 65-36 triumph for their fourth title (one tie) in the tournament's five-year history.

"We like to mix it up and give different looks on defense," said Vikings senior forward Bryana Hopkins, who got plenty of looks at the basket on way to her career-high 24 points. "We all know we have to step up this season and my teammates did a really good job of passing me the ball to me where when I was in position to score."

Hopkins scored 14 of her points in the half, including 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer that sent he Vikings into the locker room leading 31-12.

As usual, Fremd coach Dave Yates took advantage of his team's depth and played 10 girls in the first seven minutes of the contest.

He ended up getting all 13 players on the floor, with 12 making it into the scoring column.

"We have a deep team," Yates said. "We want to give the girls, the opportunity to show what they have."

The Vikings showed they can score from anywhere, ringing up five 3-pointers, including two from Amanda McCartney and one apiece from Erin Lenahan and Midori Williams and Hopkins.

"It's awesome that we have so many girls so talented," Hopkins said. "They can all come in and pick up where we left off."

Junior Grace Tworek picked up 5 rebounds and 4 assists senior while Julia Wacker joined Hopkins in double figures with 12 points.

As usual, senior guard Brianna Lewis did a nice job creating opportunities, and finished with 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 assists.

Junior Missy Adrian also grabbed 3 rebounds while Lenahan handed 4 assists.

Hopkins' previous career-high was 17 points against Prospect last season and in her last game against Rolling Meadows.

"Bryana played a good game," Yates said. "She showed all those signs this past summer and she has really stepped up. I'm very pleased with her progress."

Senior Jazza Johns led the Skyhawks (4-1) with 17 points, including all 9 of her team's points in the third quarter.

"Fremd showed last year (Class 4A state runner-up) that it can play," Frey said. "We graduated a lot of seniors so I wasn't sure what to expect. To go 4-1 in this tournament, I'm tickled pink with our start."

Yates can't complain with the Vikings' start, either.

"I've been around long enough now (nine years as Fremd head coach) not to take this (winning another Turkey Thriller) for granted." he said. "It's just another step in the process."

The next step is a date on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. against Wisconsin's Arrowhead High School at the Brookfield Central Thanksgiving Shootout.

The event features 37 teams and 25 games over the two days.

Rolling Meadows faces defending Division 1 state champion Oak Creek High School at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday.

Hopkins was named to the first team for the second straight year and she has been a part of three straight titles (Fremd was co-champs with Rolling Meadows in 2013). Also joining her on the first team was teammate Tworek, Johns and her teammate Aannah Inerrante.

Lewis was selected to the second team for the second year in a row, joined by Johnsburg's Cortland Summerfeld.

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