Cary-Grove produces win over Crystal Lake S.
Cary-Grove got the Gators this time.
The Trojans snapped Crystal Lake South’s 10-game winning streak Friday night, downing the Gators 48-36 in Fox Valley Conference Valley Division girls basketball action at Cary-Grove. The win avenged an earlier 45-43 loss to the Gators.
It certainly was a productive night for the Trojans, who have their sights on their fourth straight Valley Division title They are now tied atop the league with Huntley.
Spearheaded by a tremendous defensive effort for 3 quarters, the Trojans (14-6, 7-1) were able to cruise past the visiting Gators (17-4, 5-2).
“We were very disappointed with the way we played them the first time,” said Cary-Grove senior forward Joslyn Nicholson. “We were really mentally prepared for this game and we were under control.”
It was the third quarter that proved to be decisive for the Trojans and fatal for the Gators.
Clinging to a 6-point 21-15 lead at halftime, the Trojans seized control of the game in the third quarter. Outscoring South 10-1, Cary-Grove took a 31-16 advantage into the fourth quarter. The Gators, who missed all 10 shots in the quarter and committed 7 turnovers, scored their only point on a free throw by Chantel Fanter. Nicholson scored 4 points and Kylie Smith canned a 3-pointer as the Trojans took a 15-point lead into the fourth quarter.
Going nearly 10 minutes without a field goal, Rachel Rasmussen canned a 3-pointer to pull the Gators within 12, 31-19, with 7 minutes left. The Trojans pulled away with a 12-5 run and grabbed their biggest lead of the game at 19, 43-24, on a 15-footer by Megan Leisten with 4:22 left.
The Gators, who were 4-of-25 from the field for 19 percent during the first 3 quarters, got hot in the fourth quarter connecting on 8-of-10 from the floor for 80 percent. South, which committed 26 turnovers, was 12-of-35 from the field for the game for 34 percent.
Rasmussen paced South with 10 points, 8 in the fourth quarter.
“Their pressure got to us and we weren’t very patient,” said Gators’ coach Kyle McCaughn. “I think at times we passed up a shot to make an extra pass and it hurt us.”
Nicholson led the Trojans with 14 points while Olivia Jakubicek scored 13 with 12 rebounds.
“Our defensive pressure really got to them for the first 3 quarters,” said Cary-Grove coach Rod Saffert. “We did a great job with our pressure. They just got hot in the fourth quarter and made some shots.”