Zanoni, ICCP knock off Wheaton Academy
Sophomore starting point guard Sophie Zanoni was unable to help the IC College Prep girls basketball team when it lost by 11 points at Wheaton Academy in December.
"I couldn't play because I missed the game before," Zanoni said. "It was hard to watch. I just wanted to go in, but it's OK. I was ready to play this game."
In the rematch Tuesday Zanoni contributed a personal-high 9 steals and 5 rebounds to lead the Knights' aggressive defensive effort for a 37-31 Metro Suburban Conference West Division victory in Elmhurst.
"It's the best defensively (we've played this season)," ICCP coach Kelsey James said.
"It's the best team game we've played so it's probably the best win for us because it's a conference game. We lost to them (50-39 Dec. 1) so overall it's probably one of the best wins for them and their confidence."
Claire Gibler had 8 points for the Knights (8-9, 2-4), who had six other players score 6, 5 or 4 points. Lillian Brown had 6 points, 7 rebounds and 5 steals.
Zanoni's final steal with 12 seconds left allowed ICCP to run out the clock after her sub, Jaida Smith, sank pairs of free throws with 1:09 and 37.1 seconds left.
"I think everyone contributed so it made the win a lot better," Zanoni said. "This is the first game we've been really excited to play. We were ready to win because we lost to them. I think we were more into it positively in attitude (this time). I think we played together a lot better."
Senior Elizabeth Melby had 13 points and 8 rebounds for the Warriors (14-5, 4-3), and four of their six points in the fourth quarter, including a short jumper to cut the deficit to 33-31 with 2:29 left.
Melby had 23 points in the first meeting when James said the Knights focused on stopping point guard Jamie Netzley, the Warriors' other four-year starter. On Tuesday Netzley did not play the second quarter after receiving three fouls in the first. Another factor was the Warriors' uncharacteristic 22 turnovers, 19 of them ICCP steals.
"I think obviously they took the ball out of Netzley's hands, which was a big factor. And obviously turnovers. You can't turn the ball over against a team that's playing hard," Wheaton Academy coach Beth Mitchell said. "I'm not taking anything away from IC. They played a great game. We just did not take care of the ball and played very undisciplined basketball."
The Warriors had scored 12 unanswered points to take a 17-11 lead in the second quarter. After the Knights went scoreless for nearly eight minutes going back to the first quarter, they had 8 points in the final 1:58 for a 19-18 halftime lead. Leslie Montoya converted a conventional three-point play as time expired.
"I think that helped us with confidence and attitude going into the third quarter," Zanoni said.
The Warriors have lost their league games by a combined 12 points. They are two losses behind conference leader Riverside-Brookfield (14-8, 6-1), which plays host to ICCP on Thursday. The Warriors are home with Riverside-Brookfield on Jan. 28.
"I think we just take attitude going into R-B," Zanoni said. "I think we need that confidence and good attitude to keep going and play together still. I think if we play good defense, we can get it done."