Cary-Grove edges Dundee-Crown
Katie Sowa and Maddie Jannusch have proved to be capable scorers for Cary-Grove's girls basketball team during the 2017-2018 campaign.
You can add senior forward Abby Getka to that list.
Connecting on 8 of 12 from the field in scoring 16 points, Getka was a key component in Cary-Grove's 41-38 victory over Dundee-Crown in Fox Valley
Conference action in Cary Saturday afternoon.
D-C defeated Cary-Grove 48-39 in Carpentersville Nov. 30.
"For some reason we have never played well at D-C so this was a game we were looking forward to," said Getka. "I hit a couple of shots early and that gave me a lot of confidence. I got some great passes from my teammates and we played really good defense."
Getka, who took a key charging foul in the fourth quarter, tallied 10 of her 16 points in the first half. She also contributed 3 assists and 5 rebounds.
"Abby really had a good offensive day but she changed the course of the game by taking a charge," said Rod Saffert. "Maddie and Katie have scored consistently all season and it was nice to see Abby score today."
The Trojans (13-8, 7-4) needed to rally from a 8-point second quarter deficit to register the win.
A putback from freshman Gianine Boado gave the Chargers (12-8, 7-4) a 19-11 advantage with 2:39 remaining before intermission.
A 12-foot baseline jumper by Getka with 8 seconds left in the first half pulled the Trojans within 4, 21-17, after 16 minutes.
With 4 lead changes in the third quarter, the Trojans grabbed the lead for good at 36-35 on a layup by Getka off a perfect feed from Sowa with 2:27 remaining.
Surviving a 4 of 12 effort from the free throw line in the fourth quarter, Cary-Grove took a 41-36 lead with 45 seconds left on 2 free throws by Jannusch.
The Trojans increased the defensive intensity in the fourth quarter, holding the Chargers to 7 points and only 2 field goals.
"We wanted to trap more and put more pressure on them," said Saffert. "We wanted to make them uncomfortable and we accomplished that."
Sowa backed Getka with 13 points, 4 assists and 6 rebounds while Jannusch scored 10 points with 9 boards.
Getka, Sowa and Jannusch combined for 39 of the Trojans' 41 points.
For D-C, Boado and senior center Maddie Tripp (7 rebounds) scored 9 apiece.
"We had so many chances and opportunities in the fourth quarter but had too many unforced turnovers and empty possessions," said Dundee-Crown coach Sarah Miller. "We didn't attack the basket with the same intensity in the second half like we did in the first half. We didn't match their physical play especially down the stretch. Give Cary-Grove credit they battled and played smart and got smart looks."