Sharples, Naperville North deny Lake Park
By now opponents of Naperville North know it’s important to always know where Kayla Sharples is on the floor.
Thursday’s DuPage Valley Conference girls basketball contest in Naperville was no different, as the talented junior affected the game on both ends of the floor and also while sitting on the bench. Visiting Lake Park made a nice run in the third quarter to turn a 10-point halftime deficit into a 32-32 tie while Sharples was on the bench with three fouls.
But unfortunately for the Lancers (5-11, 1-3), after Sharples returned the Huskies closed out the quarter on an 11-0 run and went on to win 57-48. Sharples led all scorers with 18 points and added 3 steals and 3 assists, and while it was her return to the game in the final two minutes of third quarter that jump-started Naperville North to its first win of the new year, she did have plenty of help upon her return.
“The difference in the game was the end of the third quarter when we made that burst of energy,” Huskies coach Jason Dycus said. “We went on a little bit of a scoring streak and I think made a big difference.”
Sharples actually had just a pair of free throws during Naperville North’s 11-0 close to the third quarter, but she was grabbing rebounds, swiping the ball from the Lancers and setting up Katie Cores for a pair of layups during the run.
“We weren’t playing too hot at the start of the third quarter,” said Sharples, who tallied 11 points while the hosts grabbed a 31-21 lead at the half. “They had their run and then it was time for us to have ours and we did. We all contributed offensively and defensively.”
Point guard Laurel Pereira said the Huskies were a bit rusty after the holiday break and after weather canceled a couple practices early this week, yet she knocked down a trio of 3-pointers to finish with 13 points and join Sharples and Cece Pope to give the team three players in double figures.
“We kind of came out a little rusty and sloppy, especially in the first half, but we picked it up big time at the end of the third quarter,” the 5-foot-10 sophomore said. “We were able to get the momentum back and we got a few key baskets.”
For Lake Park, Jakeiya Morgan had 16 points and 4 steals off the bench, and Abbie Zastawny added 10 points.
Erica Fant did a little of everything with 8 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals. But after opening the second half with that 11-1 run to draw even, the offense went cold and allowed Naperville North to retake command of the game.
“We were a different team after halftime, but we can’t come out as flat as we did tonight,” Lancers coach Brian Rupp said. “It’s a shame because I feel like it’s a missed opportunity for our girls. I’m glad we battled back at the start of the third quarter, but then going into the fourth quarter we were down one more point than we were at the half. We have to learn how to absorb these runs and continue to score.”