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Fremd gets its revenge vs. Lake Forest

A year ago Fremd girls basketball coach Dave Yates had a difficult time with his team in their locker room after losing to Lake Forest in the sectional final.

That Fremd locker room was 180 degrees different Thursday after the Vikings got revenge for last year's loss with a 49-35 win over Lake Forest in the Class 4A sectional final at Palatine.

Fremd (27-7) will meet defending state champion Maine West in Monday's supersectional at Conant in Hoffman Estates. Maine West advanced by beating Evanston 43-42 in overtime Thursday night in the Maine West sectional final.

Maine West defeated Fremd 59-42 on Feb. 8.

Yates was pleased with the turnaround from last year's sectional title-game loss.

“Last year it was the most emotional locker room I have seen in my career,” Yates said. “This has been in our craw for a year. Our kids were excited. You don't get a redemption game very often. “

Emily Klaczek, who scored 17 of her team-high 19 points in the first half, said that her and the rest of the Fremd squad, which was mostly juniors last season, welcomed the chance at a rematch with the Scouts.

“We were super-excited to play them,” Klaczek said. “We had a chip on our shoulder and we wanted it. We were talking that not many times do you have an opportunity to play a team that you lost to in such important game. We said next play every time.”

Ruthie Montella, who had 13 points and knocked down 5 free throws in the final quarter, said the Vikings' team feeling was way better this year.

“The way we feel right now is like night and day,” Montella said. “This year we had a different mentality. We focused on fighting the entire time and I think we did that.”

Lake Forest (26-9) did not go away easily.

Led by Wisconsin commit Halle Douglass, who finished with 19 points and 7 rebounds, and Finola Summerville, the Scouts stayed right with Fremd for three-plus quarters.

With Fremd leading 28-20 early in the third quarter, Douglass, who had just 6 points in the first half, led the Scouts back. Her 3-pointer with 6:17 to play cut the lead to 35-33.

That's when the Vikings' defense turned the heat up.

Fremd made a huge effort to keep the 6-foot-2 Douglass away from the basket and force the Scouts to look for alternatives to score. The result was that Lake Forest went scoreless down the stretch, hitting just 1 of its final 11 shots of the game while turning the ball over three times.

The Vikings got a huge 3-pointer from Grace LeBarge from the corner to make it 38-33 with 6:03 remaining to give Fremd some breathing room. The Vikings then converted 11 free throws down the stretch. Montella, Klaczek and Olivia Hill, who finished with 6 points and 9 rebounds, all scored from the line.

“I thought the end of game we played our scout the way we should have,” Yates said. “Earlier in the game we were having some mix-ups. And when we had a mix-up, they took advantage of it.”

All that was remaining was for Fremd to cut down the nets.

“Last year we were juniors and we knew we had it this year,” Klaczek said.” Yates said it correctly. We were so emotional last year and he reminded us about that tonight. He said ‘Remember how you felt last year. You don't want that again.' ”

And now the Vikings don't.

  Fremd's fans and players get revved up late in a win over Lake Forest in Class 4A Palatine girls basketball sectional championship action Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
  Fremd's Emily Klaczek, left, gets around Lake Forest's Molly Fisher in Class 4A Palatine girls basketball sectional championship action Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.comFremd's Caroline Cochrane drives to the hoop against Lake Forest in Class 4A Palatine girls basketball sectional championship action Thursday night.
  Lake Forest's Molly Fisher takes an outside shot against Fremd in Class 4A Palatine girls basketball sectional championship action Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
  Fremd's Olivia Hill takes the ball to the hoop against Lake Forest in Class 4A Palatine girls basketball sectional championship action Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
  Fremd's Caroline Cochrane battles for a rebound against Lake Forest in Class 4A Palatine girls basketball sectional championship action Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
  Lake Forest's Halle Douglass dishes the ball off under the hoop against Fremd in Class 4A Palatine girls basketball sectional championship action Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
  Lake Forest's Finola Summerville, left, shoots as Fremd's Olivia Hill defends in Class 4A Palatine girls basketball sectional championship action Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
  Fremd's Vikings get revved up on the bench during a second-quarter run against Lake Forest in Class 4A Palatine girls basketball sectional championship action Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
  Fremd's Ruthie Montella drives under the hoop in a win over Lake Forest in Class 4A Palatine girls basketball sectional championship action Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
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