Full-throttle first half powers Fremd past Lakes

The Fremd cheerleaders made the lengthy trip to Gurnee on Wednesday to support their girls basketball team, ranked No. 1 in the Class 4A.

And the four-time defending Mid-Suburban League champs gave them plenty to cheer about, right from the get go.

The Vikings put together one of the most impressive halves in school history, blitzing Lakes for a 39-0 lead at the break en route to a 68-21 triumph in the Warren regional semifinal.

The Vikings (25-2) will meet the host Blue Devils for the championship at 7 p.m. Friday.

The Vikes will bring with them their newest member of 1,000 point club.

Senior guard Brianna Lewis hit the first of two free throws in the third quarter to reach the milestone and join teammate and MSL West Player of the Year Bryanna Hopkins, who scored her 1,000th point earlier this season.

Lewis was part of the Vikings' electrifying start, s coring 6 points in the first quarter when Fremd outscored Lakes 21-0.

"The cheerleaders went all this way (about an hour drive) to support us," Lewis said. "That is pretty awesome. They give us another reason to push forward. They're like our cheering section."

They cheered on the Vikes' fast start that included suffocating full-court pressure which gave Lakes a difficult time even crossing the half-court stripe.

Junior Grace Tworek, who scored a game-21 points, had 4 steals in the first quarter and handed out 2 assists in the period.

Tworek and senior Julia Wacker swatted away 3 shots apiece which helped stymie the Eagles' offense in the first 16 minutes.

Hopkins had a pair of steals during the rally and scored 9 of her 13 points in the first-half charge.

All 13 Vikings made it onto the floor and 11 scored including Lauren Glaser, Missy Adrian, Erin Lenahan, Amanda McCartney, Hayley Williams, Midori Williams, Jenna Simios and Natalie Connors.

"That was an awesome start," Lewis said. "We came out very focused in warm-ups and very focus in the game. We came ready to play."

It's all part of the theme of 'Starts Matter,' according to coach Dave Yates, whose state powerhouse has made it a habit to take control early of games.

"We always talk to our kids about getting off to a fast start," he said." And we've done a good job at it this season. When you are the favorite, it always helps to come out of the gate strong.

"Sometimes that erases the belief of the other team that it can play with you."

Lakes got its first basket with 6:25 left in the third quarter when 5-foot 7 senior guard Ellie Haviland hit a runner in the lane to make it 41-2.

"I walked into the locker room at half smiling and said, "It is, what it is,' said Eagles first-year coach Brian Phelan. "I just told the girls that they had a lot of people cheering for them."

"We got off the shneid there early in the third quarter on Ellie's basket. And we just wanted to keep playing hard for personal pride."

Haviland did exactly that in her final high school game, scoring 9 points in the second half to complete her three-year career as a varsity starter.

"All we could ask for was to go out and have fun, and enjoy the second half," Haviland said. "When I made that first basket, that was my victory right there. After that, I was like all right, 'let's break 10 points, then 20, and so on'. It was just increments."

Juniors Sarah Zellman and Shannon Hurlbut each hit 3-pointers for Lakes while junior Natalie Iacopetti and freshman Mia Edwards had 2-point buckets. Junior Natalie Pawlak added a pair of free throws.

"They (Fremd) were a really good team so we can't say 'we didn't do this or we didn't do that' ", Haviland said. "They just did everything that a great team that may go downstate does."

Lakes capped a memorable season with a school-record 18 wins under Phelan.

The Eagles took third in their Christman tourney, the first time the program earned any hardware. They also had their best North Suburban Conference division finish (second to Antioch which the Eagles defeated once).

"We won the third quarter (vs. Fremd) in terms of points," Phelan said. "So I was glad our girls played hard each and every possession. We had a great season. It was a pleasure to lead a great group of girls this season."

All return expect for Haviland.

Yates will graduate seven seniors, including Lewis who was caught off guard by her 1,000th point.

"After I made the free throw in the third quarter, coach Yates called time out and he told me when we were in the huddle (about 1,000th point)," Lewis said. "I was pretty surprised. I think a lot of people knew but I didn't know at all. So it was exciting."

"Brianna has been a part of so many big moments," Yates said. "It was nice to see her reach this milestone."