Block, Timothy clinch title share
Cassidy Block is getting a serious case of senioritis on the basketball court lately.
That’s good news for Timothy Christian.
Block continued a torrid recent stretch with 27 points and 6 rebounds, and the Trojans clinched at least a share of the Metro Suburban Conference championship with a 52-37 win over Glenbard South on Tuesday in Glen Ellyn.
Block, averaging just under 16 points a game this year, is at 21.4 over the Trojans’ last seven games.
What’s got into her?
“I guess it’s senior year,” Block said with a shrug. “I feed off my team’s energy. They do a great job of finding me when I’m open.”
Timothy Christian (17-7, 10-1) can clinch the Metro Suburban outright Thursday, its first league crown of any kind since 2005, with a win over Riverside-Brookfield. The Trojans were in control throughout Tuesday’s game, leading for all but the first 39 seconds.
“Tonight I learned a lot about my girls,” Trojans coach Ryan DeKoekkoek said, “in regards to rising to the occasion and the will to win. We know that every game from here on out is big.”
Block filled the high post well against Glenbard South’s zone, a position she’s grown comfortable with either popping midrange jumpers or driving to the basket. She also was efficient at the free-throw line, making her first 12 and 15 of 17.
“I played travel this past year, and that’s where I played all the time,” Block said, “so I got into the habit of going to the high post. We do practice free throws a lot. I guess it’s paying off.”
“Her confidence right now is just sky-high,” DeKoekkoek said. “Our biggest thing with her is getting her in spots where she can be effective. She’s smart and her court vision’s got better.”
Slow starts in both halfs doomed Glenbard South (14-9, 8-2), which had its five-game win streak snapped.
The Raiders dug an early 7-1 hole, and trailing 29-23 at half they went scoreless the first 3:52 of the third quarter while Timothy Christian built a double-digit lead. Glenbard South got as close as 38-33 in the fourth quarter on a score by Ivana Markovic, but Block responded with a baseline runner to start a 10-2 Trojans run.
“You can’t give a team like that a hole that we dug ourselves into,” Raiders coach Julie Fonda said. “Our fate conference-wise was in our hands and we didn’t take advantage of the opportunity we had.”
Timothy Christian was boosted early by a somewhat uncharacteristic barrage from distance. Kelli LeGrand and Jessica Dirkse both hit a pair of 3-pointers in the first half.
Glenbard South leading scorer Patrice Hicks was held without a basket, but the Raiders did get good production off their bench. Markovic had a team-high 10 points, fellow freshman Jenna Brambora and Hannah Taylor 6 apiece.