advertisement

South Elgin hangs on for win

Continuing to find its way without its leading scorer on the court, the South Elgin girls basketball team took a big step forward Saturday afternoon.

The Storm struggled at times, especially in the first half, but persevered and got past East Aurora 44-41 in an Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division game.

It was South Elgin's fourth game without junior leader Becca Smith, who remains sidelined with a knee injury sustained Jan. 8 against Bartlett. Smith said Saturday she hopes to be back when South Elgin plays again, on Feb. 9 against Streamwood.

But with Smith and her 20 points per game and floor leadership on the bench, the Storm (12-11, 4-6) found a way to win Saturday, despite making only 5 of 27 shots in the first half.

“We had a bunch of shots go in and out in the first half but we were only down by two so I felt pretty good at halftime,” said Storm coach Tim Prendergast.

While South Elgin struggled in the first half, so too did East Aurora (11-13, 3-7). The Tomcats shot just 7 of 27 but used a 22-15 rebounding advantage for enough putback baskets to grab a 14-12 lead at the break.

The Storm appeared to have a renewed sense of purpose in the second half, though, and used the defensive toughness of sophomore Kara Rodriguez (5 steals), junior Lania Robinson (4 steals) and freshman Savanah Uveges to cause 3 quick turnovers that each resulted in baskets that gave the Storm an 18-14 lead a little over a minute into the third quarter.

And even though the outcome wasn't decided until the final horn, South Elgin clearly had the momentum.

“We really stepped it up defensively in the second half,” Prendergast said. “Kara Rodriguez was everywhere, and we got into a better offensive rhythm in the second half.”

Senior Kelsey Prince hit two big 3-pointers in the second half on her way to a team-high 14 points and Uveges scored all 9 of her points in the final 16 minutes.

“Our whole team has to step up with Becca out and I know I have to step up and get some points on the board and help us win games,” Prince said.

South Elgin held a 37-32 lead after a basket by Robinson (11 points) with 4:35 to play but East Aurora came back and grabbed a 38-37 advantage when Gaby Lechuga (18 points) made the third of her four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. Uveges hit 2 free throws at 3:14 but Lechuga nailed another 3 with 2:41 left to give the Tomcats a 41-39 lead with 2:41 left. Uveges drove the lane and tied it with 1:48 to go and when Lechuga missed a 3-pointer at 1:07, Uveges found freshman Kennede Miller on a perfectly executed breakaway and the Storm had a 43-41 lead with 53 seconds later. An East Aurora turnover and a Uveges free throw with 14 seconds left made it 44-41 and after an East Aurora time out, Robinson's steal just after the inbounds pass allowed the Storm to hang on for the win.

“Kelsey Prince got into a little groove there and knocked down a couple shots,” said Prendergast, whose team finished the day shooting 17 of 52. “And that freshman-to-freshman basket was very nice. East Aurora's a gutsy team and I'm proud of my kids.”

Images: South Elgin vs. East Aurora girls basketball

Smith, South Elgin learning to deal with adversity

  South Elgin’s Deandra Anderson puts up a shot against East Aurora during Saturday’s game in South Elgin. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  South Elgin’s Lania Robinson drives past East Aurora’s Angel Mallett during Saturday’s game in South Elgin. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com