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New Trier tops Prospect for Charger Classic crown

New Trier’s girls basketball features a lot of scoring weapons.

That’s one of the reasons the top-seeded Trevians came in to the Dundee-Crown Charger Classic undefeated.

Coach Teri Rodgers’ squad retained that perfect mark, going 4-0 with a 54-35 victory over Prospect in the championship game on Monday night in Carpentersville.

Unfortunately, the Knights (13-2) were playing without a key weapon, 6-foot junior Catherine Sherwood, who averages 10 points and 6 rebounds as a power forward. She was out with concussion-like symptoms.

But Knights coach Ashley Sandstead-Graham knows the Trevians (16-0) have plenty of power and was hardly making excuses.

“New Trier is a great team,” said Graham, who like former Libertyville standout Rodgers, participated as player in this tournament when she starred at Buffalo Grove. “You try to stop (Jeannie) Boehm but then they have great outside players. They hit six 3-year pointers.”

Boehm, a 6-3 sophomore forward, scored 17 points and grabbed 9 rebounds as the Trevians won their third D-C title and second under Rodgers.

Graham, in her second season, had the Knights playing in their first D-C title game.

“I thought Prospect was very well coached and has a handful of talented players,” Boehm said. “But I thought our guards did a great job shutting them down and driving to the basket.

“Things were very congested inside to start the game but our guards did a great job hitting shots and driving.”

After junior Jackie Welch (8 points) started the game by hitting a 17-footer, the Trevians next five baskets all came within 6 feet of the basket and they led 13-4 after a quarter.

They extended the lead to 20-7 on a fastbreak layup by Alexa Czyzynski (8 points) midway through the fourth quarter, and the Knights never got within double digits the rest of the contest.

“Some of our girls hit great shots, particularly those who hadn’t been shooting that well,” Rodgers said. “We figured they would play a zone. Basically our game plan was to get good ball movement and that’s exactly what we did.”

The Knights did their best to get the ball inside on the taller Trevians.

One Knight who created chances inside was senior Marissa Pacini, who scored a season-high 9 points with a team-best 5 rebounds. Pacini’s driving layup was Prospect’s only basket in the third quarter.

“I thought Marissa really stepped up,” Graham said. “She had some great takes to the basket. She wasn’t afraid to mix it up in there and against tall kids. She wasn’t scared. I’m really proud of her.”

Pacini also was 3-of-4 at the free throw line.

“It was different without Catherine out there because obviously she is a huge part of the team,” Pacini said. “But we all had to adjust, play to our strengths and keep going.”

Junior Taylor Will (4 rebounds) hit a baseline 3-pointer as time expired to finish with a team-high 10 points, leaving her 19 shy of 1,000 for her career.

Sophomore Nikki Matters and junior Christina D’Anza each chipped in 4 points for the Knights.

“We learned we can’t be timid of a trapping press,” Pacini said. ”They (New Trier) have some really tall girls and they are definitely one of the best teams we’ve played.”

“I’m really proud of our kids,” Graham said. “I think we showcased ourselves really well this tournament. Without Catherine, it’s obviously a big loss but it was time for other kids to step up.

“To get the championship game for the first time is obviously a tribute for the girls and all the hard work they have been putting in. To be 13-2 at this point against the quality teams we’ve seen is a great accomplishment an we’re extremely proud of that.”

Images: Prospect vs. New Trier girls basketball

  Prospect coach Ashley Graham talks with Haley Will during the Knight’s meeting with New Trier in the championship game of the 31st Annual Charger Classic at Dundee-Crown on Monday. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Prospect’s Nikki Matters drives around New Trier’s Kathryn Pedi in the championship game of the 31st Annual Charger Classic at Dundee-Crown on Monday. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  New Trier’s Isabella Bosco fouls Prospect’s Christina D’Anza in the championship game of the 31st Annual Charger Classic at Dundee-Crown on Monday. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Prospect’s Haley Will has her shot blocked by New Trier’s Jeanne Boehm in the 31st Annual Charger Classic in the championship game of the 31st Annual Charger Classic at Dundee-Crown on Monday. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
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