Glenbard South ready for West Aurora
Junior guard Payton Carli and her Glenbard South girls basketball teammates could have been sluggish considering the 10:30 a.m. start for Monday's first-round game at Wheaton North's Bill Neibch Falcon Holiday Classic.
Already riding a five-game winning streak, the Raiders responded with one of their best halves of the season.
"We were up at school at 8 a.m. so we were already up and awake," Carli said. "(Coach Julie Fonda) really made sure that we were into the game and not rolling out of bed right before."
That first half proved to be the difference in the Raiders' 50-36 victory over West Aurora. After building a 35-16 cushion at the half but hitting a lull in the third quarter with only two points, the Raiders (10-1) kept the persistent Blackhawks (3-9) from getting closer than eight points.
The No. 6-seeded Raiders advanced to the quarterfinals for the third straight year. They meet No. 3 Downers Grove North at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
"It was a tale of two halves," Fonda said. "Obviously, the difference was we got a little stagnant on defense. I think our offense didn't move very well. We let them back into the game and it leaves a bad taste in our mouth, but we're going to take the victory and move forward."
Senior Sydney Bauman scored 16 points and Carli added 11 points and 4 assists to lead the Raiders. Junior guard Ashley Williams paced West Aurora with 10 points and 7 rebounds.
The first half was pure sweetness for the Raiders. They made 16 of 28 shots, including 3s from Bauman and Carli, with 8 assists. Defensively, they had 7 of their 11 steals, allowed just one offensive rebound and held junior Carley Frauenhoff, the Blackhawks' top scorer and 3-point threat, scoreless.
"We executed really well. We played great defense. We forced a lot of tipped balls, and we capitalized off them," Fonda said.
The inside-outside combination of the 6-foot-4 Bauman and Carli and Jenna Brambora did the scoring damage. The Raiders scored the final two baskets of the half to open their biggest lead.
"I was really impressed with our half. It's comforting knowing that we're working and getting better," Carli said. "I was really pleased with that everybody was contributing. We were passing the ball well and we were converting on our shots. We were very active on defense with moving our hands and feet, making sure we got the steal without the foul."
The Blackhawks, who have no seniors and three juniors, employed a more active zone and emphasized rebounding to start the third quarter. They scored the first 10 points of the period, five from sophomore reserve Bailey Ziman, and held the Raiders to 1-of-15 shooting to cut the deficit to 37-26.
West Aurora closed to 39-31 with 5:36 left after back-to-back baseline baskets by freshman Kiyanna Rodgers.
"(Our players) did a nice job. We're just so small and we feel bad, like all we're doing is hammering them to rebound and box out," said West Aurora coach Connie Siljendahl, whose team was outrebounded 29-24.
"They're just so young that they'll get there, but they're doing good things. They're moving the ball well and talking a little bit more on defense. It's just a process we have to go through."
The Raiders start four seniors. With their lead down to 8 points, they responded with three unanswered buckets by Bauman, two off feeds by senior Alex LaPonte. Carli and senior Ivana Markovic added late free throws.
"They're such a veteran group. You'll notice I don't take timeouts because I want them to fix it themselves and really understand what they can do adjustment-wise," Fonda said.
A late-season call-up the past two years, Carli joined the starting lineup after senior Megan Smith tore her ACL in the season opener.
"I kind of like play for her now because I am taking her spot," Carli said. "I've known these seniors for like my whole life. My sister's a senior (on the team, Taylor). I've really gotten to know the girls and how they play. I've watched them play. I really enjoy it."