Wheeling topples Hoffman Estates

Wheeling girls basketball coach Matt Weber spent this fall as the receivers coach for Prospect's football team.

On Saturday, he saw Nosa Igiehon catch plenty of passes from her guards and she knew how to get to the end zone, or rather the basket.

The Wildcats' 6-foot senior forward scored a game-high 16 points, including a pair of 3-point plays, to help her team top Hoffman Estates 50-27 in a third-round game of Hoffman Estates' sixth annual Pilgrim Classic.

"The guards were helping the posts and the posts were helping the guards," Weber said. "It was a complete team game."

Igiehon's team-high points were followed by sophomore Sophia Stanke (12 points, three 3-pointers) and junior Naomi Mettelus (6), who hit a pair of 3-pointers.

"A lot of times coaches Weber and (Bill) Murmann (also has coached football) relate football to basketball and that helps a lot," Igiehon said. "Not that I watch football or anything but just seeing how they can relate one sport to another is really nice."

It was a nice second half that helped the Wildcats seal the deal for their second win against one loss in the six-team tourney.

A strong cut to the basket by Raven Wilson pulled the Hawks to within 17-14 with 6:45 left in the third quarter.

But the Wildcats went on an 11-2 run to take command.

Back-to-back 3-pointers by Stanke made it 23-16 before Igiehon's spin move for a layup followed by her 3-point play made it 28-16.

"Nosa realizes her strength, which is being able to attack the basket," Weber said. "She's very athletic, very quick and has a great first step. Once she realized she could get to the basket, she took advantage."

"They (Weber and Murmann) always really try to make it simple where I don't need to be dribbling and doing all this special stuff," said Igiehon, who would like play in college and study architectural or computer software engineering. "I just need to be near the basket and score."

She does more than just put the ball in the basket.

Igiehon's blocked shot and steal led to a fastbreak layup by junior Morgan Collar (4 points) which gave Wheeling a 36-18 lead after three quarters.

"We always want to work hard and play hard," Igiehon added. "Whatever we do in practice we want to transfer to the game,"

"She (Igiehon) is really aggressive and goes to the rim," said Hawks coach Mike Koester. "She is tough to guard."

Junior guard Chloe Drozdz (5 points) and freshman Sam Janulis (3 points) also had 3-pointers for the Wildcats.

"We talked at half about coming out with a lot of energy on the court, a lot of communicating on defense and just limiting their second-chance opportunities," Weber said. "And I thought the kids did that."

Senior Alysa Dupart led Hoffman (1-2) with 10 points (three 3-pointers) while Wilson added 6 and sophomore Ana Sturgis 5.

"We were taking good shots but they just weren't falling," said Koester. "We just need to keep working. Raven (Wilson) has been looking good. She just has to keep working. Alysa (Dupart) did well.

"We just need to come with a focus every day. This was not our best game in terms of focus. So we just have to get ready for next week."