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Big win for Stevenson

Stevenson's stars in waiting flashed their potential, and Libertyville's posts continued to produce at double-double efficiency.

And yet, at game's end, a familiar storyline played out.

Taylor Buford, Sofia Way and Ashley Richardson combined for 52 points, as Stevenson pulled away from visiting Libertyville 73-46 in a North Suburban Lake Division girls basketball opener that was closer than the final score indicated Tuesday night.

"We got big production out of the Big Three - Ashley, Sofia and Taylor," said Tom Dineen, whose Patriots improved to 6-0, as Buford scored 22 points, Way added 17 and 7 rebounds and Richardson sank three 3-pointers as part of her 13-point effort. "You don't ever want to take that for granted. It's sure nice to have those three."

For Libertyville (3-3), it's nice to have senior Becky Deichl and sophomore Claire Keefe back this season, especially since each player has raised her game. The 6-foot-2 Deichl scored 22 points, including a 3-pointer, and grabbed 10 rebounds. The 6-foot Keefe was in "beast mode," coach Greg Pedersen said, as she hustled for 16 rebounds and scored 12 points.

"Their posts look a lot better," Buford said.

Deichl (9 points, 5 rebounds) and Keefe (4 points, 8 boards) were the reason why Libertyville had a 15-10 lead after one quarter.

"We didn't execute the game plan real well in the first quarter," Dineen said. "I saw (Libertyville) play twice last week, and their post players are very active and very good. We wanted to try to keep the ball out of both of their hands, and we didn't do a real good job of that early on."

Stevenson was better in the second quarter, thanks in part to freshman Skylar Blackstock, who came off the bench to score on a putback and grab 4 rebounds.

Madison Wicklund's 4 points and 5 rebounds all came in the second half. The sophomore saw action on the varsity last season.

"They gave us great minutes," Way said of Blackstock and Wicklund. "Skylar coming in as a freshman, that's a big jump. Taylor and I made that jump. I think Sky has adjusted really well. If you look at how she played at the beginning of the Schaumburg tournament to now, there's already a difference."

Way has seen the improvement in Wicklund's game too.

"With Madison, from last season to now, it's completely two different players," Way said. "She's just matured. She's accepted her role very well, and she's a great rebounder. When she took a jump shot just outside the block (in the fourth quarter), I was like, 'I'm going to start walking back (on defense). I know it's in.' "

Deichl's buzzer-beating 3 from the top of the key had Libertyville within 47-42 after three quarters. But Stevenson switched to a zone, and the Wildcats couldn't generate an outside game. Deichl hit a 10-footer and sophomore Riley Weis sank 2 free throws, as Libertyville got outscored 26-4 in the fourth.

"We didn't want to show (zone) in the first half," Dineen said. "It definitely affected us," Deichl said. "We practiced it, but it's difficult for us to capitalize when we're not hitting as much from the outside."

Deichl, Keefe and Weis (9 points) accounted for all but 3 of the points for the Wildcats, who are inexperienced in the backcourt.

"We got to learn fast," Deichl said. "We did a good job of breaking (Stevenson's) press, but on defense we broke down. We gave them a lot of open shots, and they're a really awesome shooting team. We'd close out for a shot, and then they'd start driving around us."

Stevenson also got 8 points from Janine Fajardo, who made a pair of 3-pointers.

"They're one of the best teams in the sectional, and they're going to go far," Pedersen said of the Patriots. "We fought them hard the whole time. Our mantra is that we have to play as hard as we possibly can. We're really young, and we know that we're going to make some mistakes, but we feel our emotion and our drive can carry us past some of those mistakes."

Images: Stevenson vs. Libertyville, girls basketball

  Stevenson's Taylor Buford, left, gets fouled by Libertyville's Addie Neal on Tuesday night at Stevenson. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville's Becky Deichl, left, blocks the shot of Stevenson's Kiana Cencula on Tuesday night at Stevenson. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville's Becky Deichl, left, shoots over Stevenson's Sophia Way on Tuesday night at Stevenson. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville's, Maggie Piazzi, left and Claire Keefe, right, strip the ball from Stevenson's Ashley Richardson on Tuesday night at Stevenson. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
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