Stevenson stymies Barrington, improves to 10-1
Stevenson's girls basketball team arrived at Barrington on Monday night with defense on its mind.
"They have a bunch of really good players and they are really well coached," said Stevenson senior guard Ava Bardic of the Fillies, who were averaging 61 points a game. "We had to be really good at help-side defense because they have a really good post player and they have Sophie Swanson, one of the best players in the state. So our whole game plan was basically just defense and our offense would come to us."
Like it has in the past, a lot of the offense came in the form of 3-pointers from Bardic.
The Illinois-Springfield recruit, just one game removed from setting the program's career record for 3-pointers (161), added five more in a 52-41 nonconference triumph over the Fillies.
"They definitely punched us in the mouth in that third quarter with their press," said Patriots coach Ashley Graham. "We prep for it but we haven't seen it. It took us a couple of possessions to get used to it."
But once they did, the Patriots were on their way to becoming 10-1.
With the Barrington press in effect, two free throws by Gwen Adler got the Fillies to within 31-26 midway through the third quarter.
However, a free throw by junior Kate Arne, putback by sophomore Emory Klatt, 3-pointer by Bardic, 6-foot bank shot by Klatt and a turnaround jumper by Arne made it 37-26 with 1:27 left.
Allison Funk's 3-pointer got Barrington within 41-29 after three quarters but the Fillies never got closer than 8 points in the final quarter.
"Credit Barrington," Graham said. "Everyone knows how well they are coached (Babbi Barreiro). They have a couple of wonderful players. Sophie Swanson (17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals) is one of the best in the state. But we have to give credit, where credit is due. Our kids really followed through with the game plan. Every night, Kendell Williams (sophomore guard) is giving her all defending the other team's best player and I'm just really proud of all our players, despite having finals week on their minds, getting a good win."
Stevenson took the lead for good when senior Simone Sawyer (14 points) hit a 3-pointer to give the visitors a 13-11 lead with 55 seconds left in the first quarter.
Bardic came right back with another 3-pointer to make it 15-11 after one period.
The Patriots built the lead to 24-15 with an 8-2 run that made it 24-15 with 4:48 left in the first half. The big rally included a reverse layup by Sawyer, a steal and layup by Sawyer, a driving layup by Bardic and 2 free throws from Klatt.
Swanson hit back-to-back driving layups to get the hosts within 24-19 with 3:23 left before a 3-pointer by Bardic capped the first-half scoring, giving Stevenson a 27-19 lead.
"When we got to within 5 points in the third quarter, we had a few more opportunities to convert off their turnovers and we didn't," said Barreiro. whose team is 7-4. "I'm really confident in this group. Every game we play we learn from it. I think we could have played better tonight and our girls know it. So we'll learn from this and move on."
Adler added 12 points, 11 rebounds and 2 steals for the Fillies while sophomore center Molly O'Riordan finished with 8 points and 4 rebounds.
Klatt scored 13 points for the Pats while Arne had 6.
"We return four starters and even two of them are sophomores who started every game last season," Graham said. "So these girls are ready for these moments. We have a tough schedule and the kids have stepped up at big moments. It's a great win against a team with a great coach and great athletes. They are going to do well this season."
Stevenson and Barrington, ranked No. 5 and No. 15, respectively, in the Daily Herald Top 20, are two of the top teams slated to compete in the 16-team Dundee-Crown Charger Classic in two weeks.