Younger Wheaton North players step up

Wheaton North freshman Hannah Swider and juniors Emma Gryna and Maggie Will are learning quickly from team leaders Kelly Thornton and Emari Jones.

The senior standouts may have initiated the Falcons' second dramatic fourth-quarter comeback this girls basketball season at the expense of rival Wheaton Warrenville South, but underclassmen and reserves helped finish it off for an exhilarating 52-45 road triumph that keeps them tied for first in the DuPage Valley Conference.

Wheaton North (9-9, 4-1) trailed 40-31 with 6:38 left but then stunned the Tigers (8-14, 3-3) with 18 unanswered points to put the game away 49-40 with 39.6 seconds left. The Falcons won their first meeting 62-59 Dec. 4 after also down by many as 9 early in the fourth quarter.

"Really, we were just determined to just win," Swider said. "I think this one was sweeter because we really came together as a team and we played really well together. The bench stepped it up. We just played as a team and that's what really was firing us up."

While Jones had 17 points and 12 rebounds, Thornton scored 5 of her 9 points in the fourth quarter. Gryna had 13 points with two fourth-quarter 3s, Swider also had 9 points and Will grabbed a personal-best 9 rebounds.

"It was definitely an emotional one. I'm really proud of how our team played," Thornton said. "We just have this fight in us. We had a bunch of people contribute, especially our bench, and I think that was what the turning point was. It's easy to be excited and pumped up when the bench is really loud."

In the Falcons' 24-point fourth quarter, they made 7 of 13 shots with two 3s, 8 of 10 free throws and had 6 steals. Although they committed 24 turnovers for the game, only one came in the final seven minutes.

"I said, 'Look, we've been here and done this before and we've just got to get up and pressure the passing lanes a little bit and put the pressure on.' And we made some big shots at key times," Wheaton North coach Dave Eaton said. "They're a very good team, and especially whenever it's Wheaton North-Wheaton South, it's going to be a very good game. I'm just proud of our kids. They just fought tonight."

Thornton scored the first five points of the rally. She hit two free throws and then turned her steal into a three-point play.

"It turned the game," Eaton said. "There was a lot that went with it, too, but that's what happens when you play hard and hustle."

Jones scored the next two baskets to tie the game, and Swider gave the Falcons the lead for good at 42-40 with 3:22 left with her steal and layup. A Gryna 3 made it 47-40, and Jones completed the run with two free throws before adding three more.

Reserve Sarah Struebing had 12 points for the Tigers with two fourth-quarters 3s, followed by Erin Madigan's 10 points and Olivia Linebarger with 8 points and 11 rebounds. Struebing played most of the second half after starter Ellen Anderson was lost to an injured left ankle during the second quarter.

After a Struebing 3 for the 40-31 lead, the Tigers had seven turnovers on their final 13 possessions and had one streak of six missed shots, including four on one possession.

"We're not experienced at finishing games like that. We go through these slumps for five, six minutes. It's painful. It really is because the effort these kids put out defensively is outstanding," WW South coach Rob Kroehnke said.

"Some of it was Wheaton North's defense, good pressure, but some of it was we just didn't finish. They didn't give up, they kept fighting and hit the shots they needed. Congratulations to them, but this one stings, no doubt."

Swider's pure hustle created the tie. After missing an inside shot, she was falling out of bounds going after the rebound but turned and found Jones underneath for an easy score.

"That wouldn't have happened without her so I was just happy that she was there. I wasn't going to let it go out of bounds," Swider said.

"I've just learned (from our seniors) about what true North Side basketball means, just working hard and having fun playing the game that you love."

Will, a reserve, was scoreless for the game, but she had 4 rebounds and 3 steals in the fourth quarter. In the final minutes she sprawled on the court to gain control of two defensive rebounds.

"I don't need to score points. I do better defensively. That's really where I step up on my end," Will said. "I feel like I know what to do in those situations. I've been in them before in the season, in the past couple of games actually."