Streamwood upends Bartlett
As if the Bartlett girls basketball team didn't have its hands full enough Tuesday night trying to stop Streamwood's duo of all-state prospect Jenejha Williams and emerging star freshman point guard Mandy Mien, when along came Rebecca Roncone catching fire in the fourth quarter to make it a three-headed monster.
It became too much for the Hawks to handle as the Sabres knocked off the defending Upstate Eight Valley Division champs on their home floor 61-57 in crossover action.
Mien had a breakout game with a season-high 24 points while Williams added 21 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 blocks. However, it was 6 crucial points from Roncone in the fourth quarter that helped to pull out the win.
The Sabres (4-3) had squandered a 13-point first half lead and a 9-point halftime lead and found themselves down 53-50 with just over 5 minutes to play when Roncone, who was the team's starting point guard last year before switching to more of an all-around utility role this season with the arrival of Mien, came up big down the stretch. Roncone hit a pair a free throws after being fouled taking the ball hard to the basket to pull the Sabres back to within 53-52. Moments later after she fought for loose ball to get the Sabres possession again. She scored on a drive to put the Sabres up 54-53 with 4:03 left to play.
After Bartlett regained the lead again 55-54 Roncone answered the call one more time with a layup off a nice pass underneath from Williams to put the Sabres on top for good.
"I struggled at point guard last year and this year I've been trying to make up for it," Roncone said. "Being in this new role has taken a lot of the stress off me and I am just glad I could make a difference in the win tonight."
Streamwood coach George Rosner knows the value of Roncone.
"What we are asking her to do by playing three different positions is difficult," Rosner said. "Sometimes we have her playing point, sometimes the off guard, and sometimes the post. Tonight we took advantage of posting her up. She can be a strong presence inside and tonight she came up big for us."
Mien carried the Sabres early on scoring 18 of her points. She finished the night 12-of-17 from the free throw line.
"She is such a special player and makes such a difference especially being able to handle the press," Rosner said. "A year ago if we lose the lead like that it's over and we don't come back. She is a big reason why. That and maturity."
Williams has welcomed the addition of Mien too.
"I love that girl," Williams said. "Last year about 75 percent of the problem against a team like Bartlett was being able to break the press. And now that she is scoring too that's just a double bonus."
Kayla Hare had a team-high 24 points for Bartlett.
"We knew this was a much improved Streamwood team," Bartlett coach Dave Mello said. "We had seen the way their guard could handle the ball. We hadn't seen her score like she did tonight. They got us in a hole at we took every thing out of us to get out of it in the third quarter. By the fourth we had some tired legs."