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Batman’s big effort helps Stevenson win

Turning the momentum was key for Stevenson’s girls basketball team on Thursday night.

Alex Elzinga got it done in the most efficient way possible: She scored her only basket a couple of minutes into the second half.

It came on a rebound and reverse layup.

“Everyone else did a great job boxing out and I was able to get the rebound,” Elzinga said. “I was underneath the basket, turned around and did a reverse. At that point, it was the only thing I was thinking of doing.

“It helped, in a way. It brought our emotions up and helped set up a rhythm. We were starting to play better on defense.”

Stevenson went on a roll from that point and defeated Barrington 41-31 in the Suburban Holiday Showcase held at Niles West in Skokie. Katie Batman led the Patriots with a game-high 17 points.

The Patriots (10-4, 1-1) broke away from the Fillies (5-8, 0-2) after a 21-21 tie at the break with an 8-1 run, with Elzinga’s bucket as part of the spurt. Stevenson led 29-22 with three minutes left.

“It was a great second half, with a great defensive effort,” said Stevenson coach Tom Dineen, whose team has won 4 of its last 5. “It was an outstanding team effort. We did make a some adjustments when we thought (Barrington) was getting inside a little too much. It made (Barrington’s) post player able to get the ball kicked back out. We just tightened things up a bit.”

The Fillies closed the lead down to 29-26 by the end of the quarter as Alexa Resch scored 5 of her 7 points.

In the fourth quarter, Batman dropped in 7 points, including one of her 3 3-pointers, as Stevenson outscored Barrington 12-5.

“In the second half we were able to get into a rhythm,” Batman said. “I felt I was on with my shot and had been off a bit the last couple of games.

“Everybody was playing together when we got relaxed out there. Everyone contributed and played well.”

The Fillies were limited to 3-for-14 shooting from the field in the second half. Nicole Collins led Barrington with 12 points and hit a couple of 3-pointers.

“In the game overall, we gave too many open looks,” Barrington coach Babbi Barreiro said. “We did a nice job in certain sets, but we gave up wide open looks to good shooters. I thought we were a little stagnant. A lot had to do with the lack of experience. We’re getting there and trying to get better game after game.”

Stevenson next plays at Proviso East at 1 p.m. today; Proviso East (11-2, 2-0) surprised host Niles West (13-2, 1-1) 60-37 in the other game Thursday. Barrington meets Niles West at 2:30 p.m. today.

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