Deerfield knocks off Wheeling

Playing a basketball game during finals week might put a little extra stress on the student-athlete.

So Morgan Collar was thankful she was not presented that problem.

Instead, she presented a problem for Deerfield.

Despite Collar's 17 points, the visiting Warriors had enough firepower in their offense to pull out a 57-45 nonconference girls basketball victory on Tuesday night.

"Thank goodness I don't have finals this week (because she is a senior)," said Collar, a 6-foot forward. "Otherwise, I'd really be cranking it up and staying up late."

Collar stayed inside the paint most of the night and her teammates were able to get her the ball to produce her highest-scoring game since returning a week ago after being sidelined 11 months due to knee surgery.

"I was very impressed with how they got the ball inside to her and how patient they were with that," said Deerfield coach Danielle Hoveydai. "No. 2 (Collar) is a great player and caused us a little trouble down the stretch.

"I think Wheeling did a great job with that and it highlighted for us that we've got to get back to playing our defense because defense is really the roots of Deerfield basketball."

After Wheeling fell behind 8-0, Collar hit 4-of-6 free throws to start the second quarter and get the Wildcats into a 13-13 tie.

But the Warriors (7-3) were able to close out the period on a 14-2 run for a comfortable halftime lead at 27-15.

Wheeling coach Matt Weber felt the turning point was the game's first four minutes.

That's when Deerfield received 4 points from junior Demi Friedman (14 points) and 2 apiece from freshman Lexi Kersten (game-high 23 points) and senior Mallory Sawyer (11 points) for the 8-0 cushion.

"Deerfield went to a three-quarters court pressure and we didn't value the basketball," Weber said. "We've just got to realize that as we keep learning through the season we have to value every single possession."

Collar's short bank shot stopped Deerfield's opening game run with 4:12 left in the quarter.

"Every game she (Collar) she is becoming more comfortable, a little stronger and getting her conditioning back up," Weber said. "So we're hoping she keeps improving and then the rest of her teammates kind of learn to play together."

Senior Chloe Drozdz chipped in 13 points while Naomi Mettelus added 9. Sophia Stanke had a 3-pointer and Ty-Ana Howard a 3-point play.

"As the season goes on we have to stay confident and keep working hard," Weber added. "I thought Deerfield was a good team and their freshmen (Kerstein and Olivia Kerndt) are very good players."

It is also finals week for Deerfield.

"You've got to give it to both teams," Hoveydai said. "Because it's not easy being a high schooler and playing through basketball and finals week. Kudos to both teams."

Wheeling (2-10) also played on Monday in Fox Lake against Grant (63-45 loss).

"From Monday night's game to this one, I definitely think the team and I played better," Collar said. "Especially our team defense because on Monday it felt like we were playing like five individuals and not as a team. But this game we really came out and showed our coaches we aren't going to give up and we just want keep improving from here."