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Glenbard North hangs tough for victory

Overcoming adversity was something the Glenbard North girls basketball team wasn't able to do in a previous loss to Lake Park, but the Panthers could tough it out when it counts, in the playoffs.

The Panthers (7-20) took home a 39-36 Class 4A York regional win Tuesday against the Lancers after losing the lead in the second half, only to regain it with a 3-pointer from sophomore Jennifer Deegan with 2:34 left to go in the fourth quarter.

“It was a big moment,” Deegan said about the team's lone 3-pointer to take a 36-35 lead. “It was close and we really needed more points to get back into the game and that was a turning point for us. So we got our energy back.”

Deegan then added two free throws and the Panthers defense denied the Lancers — who had been having a stellar game from behind the arc — the big chances to come back once again.

“They're just very evenly matched with us,” said Glenbard North coach John Chamberlain. “I'm really proud of the girls. We hadn't had the ability to fight back from adversity. We've often just kind of rolled over and died so the fact that they got the lead and we got it back was huge. So I am really just proud of the seniors in particular, but the girls really played well down the stretch.”

In the first quarter the Panthers used patience and good ball movement to pull out to a 11-4 lead against the Lancers, but Lake Park and junior guard Emily Duckhorn took the lead in the third by way of the 3-pointer.

Duckhorn had 15 points on the night, all from the behind the arc in the second and third quarters to help her team regain the lead by end of the third, 33-29.

The Lancers (7-21) had 24 points from the 3-point line but couldn't seem to continue their hot shooting in the fourth thanks to a defensive change by Chamberlain and the Panthers.

“They did a good job on Duckhorn,” said Lake Park coach Brian Rupp. “They threw more pressure at her. To be honest I thought we passed up open looks and that's what we work for and if we're not ready to shoot them then they're not going to go in. They took her away, that was fine, we had other options, we just didn't exploit it.”

Deegan ended the night going 12 of 14 from the free-throw line, finishing with a game high 21 points. Junior Sarah Petzold also made some big plays for the Panthers, ending the game with 10 points of her own.

Images: Lake Park vs. Glenbard North girls basketball

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