Stejskal does it all as Buffalo Grove beats Wheeling
Buffalo Grove junior Sammy Stejskal has a simple explanation for her prowess on the boards.
"When I see the ball I go get it," Stejskal said.
On Friday night against visiting Wheeling, the junior proved she not only knows how to rebound the ball, she also knows how to put it in the basket.
The 5-foot-11 Stejskal rang up 22 points and snared 14 rebounds - both game highs - as the Bison (7-0, 1-0) defeated the Wildcats 68-52 in the Mid-Suburban League East Division opener for both teams.
"Sammy does a great job and she's an extremely hard worker," said Bison coach Steve Kolodziej. "She puts in the time that's needed to evolve her game. She's a great kid and a great teammate and she loves basketball."
Stejskal scored 8 consecutive points with the game tied early in the fourth quarter to shut the door on a Wheeling rally.
"I was confident coming into this game," Stejskal said. "Wheeling has a great player in Deanna (Kuzmanic) but we prepared very well."
Kuzmanic, a senior, led Wheeling with 18 points.
But coach Matt Weber felt his Wildcats didn't play up to their potential.
"We were flat," Weber said. "We weren't moving the ball well. It was one pass and one shot for us all night.
"That's not the way to be successful. We're successful when we work together and play as a team."
After a rough opening quarter, the Wildcats regained the momentum in the second and third quarters - finally knotting the game at 44-44 just a minute into the final stanza.
Then Stejskal took over. The junior hit 2 free throws, had a rebound and putback, two more foul shots then another basket - and just like that BG led 52-44.
Two free throws minutes later from junior guard Maddie Welter (18 points) gave BG its first double-digit lead at 58-47.
The Wildcats (6-3, 0-1) could get no closer despite the efforts of senior guard Hannah Dobrowski - who scored 5 of her 10 points in the final period.
"We didn't execute in the fourth quarter, but you've got to give credit to BG," Weber said. "They had great pressure defense. They were executing their offense and they hit their free throws down the stretch."
The Bison finished 18-of-20 from the line, led by Stejskal and Welter, who both were 6-for-6.
Senior Maddie Callahan added 14 points for BG, while teammates Teagan Hutchings and Natali Dimitrova each pitched in with 4 points.
Despite the lopsided final score, Kolodziej said his Bison know they survived a talented foe.
"Wheeling is very good and our conference is so tough this year, every game is going to be a battle," Kolodziej said. "You can't look past anyone, and that's the mindset our girls have."