Fremd takes control, tops Barrington
You know the saying: a loss sometimes can be the best thing to happen to a team.
"We learned a week ago that we have to come out and be ready every game," said Fremd coach Dave Yates, whose club (8-1) is considered one of the finest in the state but suffered a recent 47-43 loss at Hersey. "We can't just show up."
The Vikings showed Monday night why they received their lofty preseason ranking, blitzing visiting Barrington 71-36 to improve to 2-0 in the Mid-Suburban West.
The Vikings did it with more than a dozen players making appearances on the floor, donning their new white home jerseys for the first time.
Duke recruit Haley Gorecki was also sporting No. 2 for the first time, after wearing No. 20 for the past three seasons.
"That's her favorite number and we just didn't have it until we got these new jerseys," Yates said. "Now she will be No. 2 the rest of the way."
After sophomore Grace Tworek tossed in a rebound bank shot to start the game, the Vikings were in charge the rest of the way and had eight different players make it into the scoring column, including a game-high 23 points by Gorecki (8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals).
With Wisconsin and Southern Illinois coaches on hand to scout junior Bryana Hopkins (8 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals, 4 assists) and Tworek (7 points, 5 steals, 4 rebounds), respectively, the Vikings used their depth to keep the pressure on the Fillies.
Junior guard Brianna Lewis handed out 5 assists to go along with her 11 points while classmate Erin Lenahan scored 8 points, six in the second quarter.
"They move the ball really well," said Barrington junior guard Abigail Elo, who had a team-high 6 points with two 3-pointers in the first half. "They are really crisp passers, they work for the open looks and they don't take unnecessary shots. They are always talking on defense and they're just very well organized."
"We just have to keep working and playing together. It's not a one-person game."
Auri Grayson, Kelly Katis and Maggie O'Donnell each had 5 points for the Fillies (3-5, 1-1) .
"We just reminded the kids that every game they play helps down the line," said Barrington coach Babbi Barreiro. "Sure, it doesn't feel that way right now. I'm sure they're disappointed, as we all are. But each game helps you get better."
Barreiro liked the effort from Grayson, a 5-foot-9 junior guard.
"Auri never gives up," Barreiro said. "I love how hard she plays. You always like a kid who plays so hard you can never tell the score of the game, and that's how Auri plays."
Fremd plays at a very fast pace, which doesn't let up when the reserves take the floor.
Junior guard Lauren Glaser was first off the bench and quickly hit a 3-pointer late in the first quarter that gave Fremd a 16-6 lead.
"We all just want to come in and do well for the team," Glaser said. "The starters give us energy. We really focus on bringing that same energy to the floor, too."
Junior guard Amanda McCartney also sparkled off the bench, hitting three 3-pointers in the second half for 9 points.
"It's a cool experience being on this team," Glaser added. "We know we have a target on our backs and coach tells us we are going to get the best game from everyone so we have to play up to our potential."
"We realize we are always going to get everyone's best shot," Yates said. "That just comes with the territory. It was a little different last year when we were a younger team and we kind of sneaked up on people."
The five-time defending West champs are the first team to 2 conference wins because Monday's game was moved up due to an Arizona trip for a holiday tournament in late December.
"They're a very good team," Barreiro said of Fremd. "Haley Gorecki is obviously a special player and they have a lot of kids who can execute their roles."