St. Charles North tops Batavia in final tuneup

St. Charles North has its own version of a big three this year - a trio that comes in especially handy against an opponent like Batavia with a standout of its own.

Not only are the North Stars' Nichole Davidson, Claire Jakaitis and Morgan Rosencrants all capable of big games offensively for St. Charles North, they all have size and athleticism to battle the Bulldogs star post Hannah Frazier inside.

Rosencrants and Jakaitis both scored 15 points Thursday and Davidson chipped in 10 in the North Stars' 55-39 victory over Batavia that ended the regular season for both teams.

"They either double on Nichole or me or Claire and it opens up one of us," said Rosencrants. "We just keep working the ball around until one of us gets open."

Frazier led everyone with 18 points on an efficient 7 of 13 shooting from the field and 4 of 4 at the line.

St. Charles North (18-8, 11-3 in the Upstate Eight Conference River Division) packed its defense around Frazier, forcing Batavia (15-14, 8-6) to take most of its shots from the outside.

Other than Frazier the Bulldogs made just 8 of their 38 attempts (21 percent) and 3 of their 22 tries from 3-point range. "We couldn't hit a lot of shots," Batavia coach Kevin Jensen said. "When they are surrounding Hannah with three (defenders) and we are struggling shooting it doesn't loosen that up."

While Batavia was missing 3s, St. Charles North got to the free-throw line 30 times and made 22 compared to the Bulldogs' 6 of 12. Ashling Davern, who scored 10 points, led the way going 5 for 6 while Davidson made all four of her attempts.

"We are constantly going at you," North Stars coach Sean Masoncup said. "We are constantly pressuring you. That tends to wear on teams."

Bethany Orman closed the first quarter with a steal and raced the other way to hit a running shot that beat the buzzer to bring Batavia within 8-6 after the first quarter.

The North Stars used a 7-0 run midway through the second, capped by Davern's 3, to take a 21-12 lead.

But the Bulldogs responded with a 14-4 surge of their own spanning the final three minutes of the first half and first three minutes of the second half to take a 26-25 lead with 5:18 left in the third quarter.

Frazier scored 12 of her team's 13 points in the second quarter. Jessica Koch opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer and Shea Bayram and Mackenzie Foster followed with baskets to put Batavia in front.

The North Stars outscored Batavia 30-13 from that point to the end of the game. Jakaitis got the first four, then Rosencrants scored the next six as the North Stars took a 36-30 lead to the fourth quarter.

"We realized we needed to want it more and play with a bigger heart," Rosencrants said.

"I thought we responded well," Masoncup said. "I thought we did a good job of mixing up some 'Ds' and pressing at times."

An Orman 3 was the only points for Batavia over the first five-plus minutes of the fourth quarters as the North Stars broke the game open. They only made two field goals in the fourth but pulled away by sinking 15 free throws.

"They attack the rim real well," Jensen said.

"Overall I was pleased with our effort, our performance. I hate at the end it (the score) looked the way it did because it was a pretty close game for most of it. We played well for most of the game."

Orman added 8 points for Batavia who heads to the Class 4A Addison Trail regional next Tuesday to play South Elgin.

"I feel good about our chances of winning a game and seeing where we go from there," said Jensen, who scouted the Storm's game with Bartlett Thursday before getting to St. Charles North. "I don't think we are going to be an easy out."

The North Stars got a scare when Davidson left the game in the fourth quarter with what Masoncup said was bruised ribs. The senior was able to return and finish the game.

Rosencrants led the North Stars with 10 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 blocked shots.

"Both teams played hard tonight," Masoncup said. "That was a tough, physical game."

St. Charles North returns to its own court next week for regionals. A win Wednesday could set up a championship game Friday against St. Charles East.

"Now we let the chips fall where they may," Masoncup said. "It's not like last year with two dominant teams in the sectional. There are eight, nine, 10, 11, 12 teams that can win any game."