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Freshman sparks Naperville Central past Batavia

Batavia knew it had to be prepared for Naperville Central senior Mia Lakstigala. Nobody warned the Bulldogs about Redhawks freshman Gabi Melby, though.

Melby came off the bench to score 20 points in her first varsity game, giving the Redhawks a lift when they needed it most. Naperville Central won 57-50 in a Naperville Central/Benet Tip Off Tournament first-round game at Naperville Central on Friday night.

"I was shaking the whole entire time," the 5-foot-6 freshman said. "Just nervous. First game. Playing with all new people. But we just clicked and it was awesome."

The nerves sure didn't show.

"I knew she was good, and I knew she was mature for her age," Redhawks coach Andy Nussbaum added. "But she played great. She's shown in practice she's not afraid. And when you think about freshmen playing, that's really the kind of thing you worry about. She's not afraid to handle the ball."

Batavia assigned junior guard Allison Newberry to defend Penn recruit Lakstigala. Lakstigala finished with a game-best 22 points.

"I thought Allison played Mia about as good as you can," Batavia coach Kevin Jensen said. "I told her, she's going to get hers. She can't drop 40 and she can't create someone else to have 20. If she gets 25 and we're in the game, OK. I can do that."

Batavia was in the game to the finish, but it couldn't overcome the spark Melby gave the Redhawks.

Naperville Central went scoreless the first 5:35 of the third quarter, allowing Batavia to take a 33-27 lead. That's when Melby got in a groove. The freshman scored 10 points the final 2:25 of the period - the Redhawks' only points in the third - and hit a 3-pointer from the left corner at the buzzer to send Naperville Central into the fourth quarter with a 37-35 lead.

"That was awesome," Melby said, who let her excitement show after making the buzzer-beater. "Highlight of the game for me."

"We were dead in the water offensively when she got hot," Nussbaum added. "It's not very often that you can surprise me like that in a positive manner."

Batavia (0-2) had good reason to feel frustrated. It never led again, falling behind by 9 midway through the fourth quarter.

"We started our third quarter like, our defense was just amazing," Jensen said. "And then just kind of had a tough run at the end of that quarter and they all of a sudden had a big run and it was like, man, we played probably about six minutes outstanding and that last two minutes they get right back in and take the lead back."

Batavia also had a good start to the game, only to see the Redhawks go on an 11-0 run late in the first quarter and into the second to take their first lead.

"They came out very strong," Melby said. "We weren't expecting it. We just had to get back in the game and keep going."

Junior forward Ava Sergio led the Bulldogs with 19 points, and junior guard Hailey Orman made five 3-pointers to finish with 15 points.

"I think we're going to win a lot of ballgames. We've got a lot of talent. But we've got to execute a couple of things defensively a little better," Jensen said.

Next time they'll be ready for Melby, who found a home on the varsity.

"Oh, it's awesome," Melby said. "Fit right in. I love it."

  Batavia's Geddy Rerko, right, takes the ball from Naperville Centrals' Lucy Schmid during Friday's game in Naperville. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Naperville Central's Maiah DeShazer, right, tries to tie up the ball with Batavia's Allison Newberry during Friday's game in Naperville. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Naperville Central's Mia Lakstigala, left, drives toward the basket against Batavia defender Ava Sergio during Friday's game in Naperville. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Naperville Central's Lucy Schmid leads a fast break while Batavia's Geddy Rerko gives chase during Friday's game in Naperville. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
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