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A quality win for Batavia over Neuqua Valley

Even while Batavia's Hannah Frazier was her usual dominant self Thursday night, the Bulldogs were unable to run away from host Neuqua Valley in their nonconference girls basketball game in Naperville.

That's because the host Wildcats and their backcourt of Myia Starks and Kai Moon were pretty impressive themselves, just not quite impressive enough to keep Frazier from powering Batavia to a 59-50 triumph. Starks and Moon combined for 40 points, but Frazier went for 25 points and 11 rebounds as Batavia (19-5) knocked off Neuqua Valley for a second time this season.

"They don't have a lot of size, but they played real tough tonight," the 6-foot-2 Frazier said. "They made it hard on me. I have to give props to them."

While the Wildcats may have focused on Frazier and contended most of her shots, they could not stop the Bulldogs' star from scoring 9 quick points as the visitors led 21-11 after one quarter. With Starks tallying 12 of her 21 points in the first half, however, the Wildcats trailed just 27-24 at the half before Batavia regained control in the second half.

"We played about four quarters just like that first quarter the first time we played them," said Batavia coach Kevin Jensen, whose team handled Neuqua a little easier at Marian Catholic's Christmas tourney. "Defensively, we were pretty good tonight. But I told our girls that they have two Division I guards that can both drive and shoot, so you have to pick your poison on how you help."

While Starks was dropping down four 3-pointers and driving to the basket and Moon was adding 19 points, Frazier got plenty of help from her teammates, including Elena Cabrera and Jessica Koch, who each connected on a pair of 3s for Batavia.

"We had Elena hitting big shots and Jess," said Frazier, who has a shot at reaching 2,000 varsity points and 1,000 varsity rebounds. "We have tons of girls who can hit shots on this team. It's nice that on any given night every one of those girls is going to contribute a lot."

The 3s were not falling often enough for the Wildcats (15-7), who went 5 for 21 from beyond the arc, yet coach Mike Williams liked his team's effort against the Bulldogs.

"They're a good team and we're right there," Williams said. "We left some baskets on the court. Yeah, we lost, but hey, this is the kind of game you want to have before you step into the playoffs."

Moon was solid but credited Starks' 21-point, 9-rebound effort with giving the team a chance to rally after the first quarter.

"I credit that second quarter push to Myia. Tonight it was like she was shooting in a big old basket and couldn't miss," said Moon. "I knew this would be a dogfight. We lost, but I'm happy with my team's effort."

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