Hoffman Estates edges OPRF
It was early in third quarter when a bell went off.
“I just think we started realizing Oak Park was a real tough team and they weren't going to let up,” said Hoffman Estates senior forward Jada Stotts.
So with the score tied at 28-28 in girls basketball regional play Wednesday, the Hawks wouldn't let up either and answered the bell.
Sophomore Becca Stoczynski drove for an 8-footer to break the tie.
Moments, Mel McGinn tossed home a 16-footer and then scored on a layup off an assist from Stotts to give the Hawks their biggest lead of the first three quarters.
“We were on our home floor and the crowd was really getting loud at that point,” Stotts added. “I just feel we wanted to get it more than them.”
The No. 8 seeded Hawks (19-8) finally got it 53-46 over No. 9 Oak Park-River Forest and now get state-ranked and top-seeded Fenwick (24-4) in Friday's 7:30 p.m. championship game of the Class 4A Hoffman Estates regional.
“We know Fenwick is really good team,” said Hawks sophomore forward Destinee Young. who scored a game-high 17 points with 9 rebounds. “We know we have to come out stronger than we did in this game (Hoffman trailed 12-7). But we believe in ourselves.”
The Hawks believed in their free-throw shooting late in the game, converting 8 in the final 1:51 to seal the deal.
With the 6-foot Young, 5-9 Stotts (14 points, 8 rebounds), 5-10 Precious Ogunleye (3 points, 3 rebounds) and 6-1 Stoczynski (6 points), Hoffman had a height advantage inside and used it often.
“That's been the story of our season,” said Oak Park coach Bob Biggins, whose team (18-13) was the runner-up to Hersey in the Season's End tourney. “We're small and we need to be able to set the tempo.
“But let's be honest, Hoffman played a little better than us. But that doesn't diminish we accomplished all season. We had a lot of success but this just wasn't our night.”
Huskies junior guard Stekara Hall, who averages 22 points, led the Huskies with 15 points while Camille Scott added 9.
“I thought Tanya Skworch did a great job on (Hall),” said Hoffman coach Mike Nocella. “The key is not to let her get good looks.”
The Hawks looked good running their offense for inside points. Mary Pettit helped out with 4 assists and 4 rebounds while Skworch had 3 assists.
“We were just were playing our game, at our tempo,” added McGinn, who also pulled down 3 rebounds. “They were very quick but we have some quickness, too.”
Oak Park's Shelby Cozette scored all 7 of her points in the final quarter and her 2 free throws got the Huskies to within 51-46 with 22 seconds left.
But Young and Ogunleye each made a free throw for the final margin.
“They were quick, catlike,” Nocella said. “They had a lot more energy than in the tapes I watched on them.”
Hoffman trailed 26-24 at the break but Stotts' 3-pointer to start the second half sparked an 11-3 run.
“In the second half, we felt we needed to pick it up more offensively,” Stotts said.
“Overall, I thought out intensity on defense and our rebounding was the difference,” Nocella said.