Presenting the 2021-2022 DuPage County All-Area Girls Basketball Team

Ryann Wendt realizes that Downers Grove North is not exactly a team constructed to spot a team a double-digit lead.

When senior Olivia Mezan transferred to the Lyons Township girls basketball program before last season, she quickly realized the potential of her talented and special new teammates.On both ends of the court, Mezan was a big reason Friday why the Lions displayed probably their best quarter to complete a perfect 12-0 West Suburban Conference Silver Division title with an impressive 63-30 victory at second-place Downers Grove North.“I definitely knew right away coming to the team that we’d definitely be winning conference and that we were a really strong team,” said Mezan, who previously played at Montini. “I think we really showed that (Friday). We have so many strengths.”The Lions (24-3) surged to a 19-1 lead after the first quarter by hitting 8 of 14 shots with three 3s and collecting four steals among six turnovers by the Trojans (21-7, 9-3 in Silver) on 13 possessions.The margin increased to 36-12 by halftime with Mezan scoring 11 of her game-high 15 points.“We held them to one point and I think we were sharing the ball really well,” Mezan said. “Our two main strengths are shooting threes really well (11 Friday) and we’re really fast. I feel like tonight we really showed that.”LT won its first Silver title in a full 12-game schedule since back-to-back crowns in 2016 and 2015, its last outright title.Riding a 12-game winning streak and this week receiving the No. 1 seed for the Class 4A LT Sectional, the Lions showed their postseason potential with that first quarter. LT won the first meeting 31-29 in La Grange Dec. 17 on a late basket by senior Hailey Markworth.“Defensively, the first game we played really well against them. We didn’t shoot well. This time we wanted to incorporate it all like we knew we could,” LT coach Meghan Hutchens said. “For them to create seven turnovers and then utilize them at the other end, that’s perfect basketball for us.”“Give LT all of the credit in the world. They were awesome tonight, well-coached,” Downers North coach Stephan Bolt added. “Right off the bat, they were confident and we couldn’t manufacture a stop throughout the first quarter.”In the abbreviated COVID-affected 2021 season, the Lions nearly were perfect in the Silver but shared the title at 5-1 with Downers North and York. LT lost its Silver finale at Downers North on a buzzer-beating bank shot.“What I like about this group is they don’t look at it like we owe team,” Hutchens said. “We just look at it like this is a game where we want to come in and we want to win.”LT junior Ally Cesarini had 14 points and sophomore Elin O’Brien had 12. Other contributors were senior Izzy Lee, Markworth, junior Ella Ormsby.After Mezan scored eight straight points for the Lions with two 3s, they led 30-7 in the second quarter by hitting 12 of their first 19 shots with six 3s.Mezan and O’Brien each had four threes for the game. O’Brien, who equaled her single-game high, has embraced her shooting role as a key sub along with sophomore post Kennedy Wanless.“My biggest role is to get hot and shoot hot, shoot 3s,” O’Brien said. “I sensed (this season) was a special team with five really strong starters and a strong bench.”Senior Kate Gross led Downers North with her eight points, all in the third quarter, with two 3s. Kaitlyn Parker added six points and Ella Sebek five rebounds.Trojans’ starting senior center Eleanor Harris has remained sidelined by an ankle injury since Jan. 8. Minus three starters, the Trojans lost at Oak Park-River Forest 36-28 Jan. 18. LT beat OPRF 67-29 Tuesday behind Lee’s personal-high 26 points.

The Naperville North girls basketball team’s ability to succeed on offense is well known. However, a team doesn’t achieve a 23-2 mark without a strong defense.

Downers Grove North guard Ryann Wendt ended a seesaw week on a high note.

Kate Gross and Downers Grove North, like so many other teams, have dealt with their share of adversity in this disjointed season.The Trojans had to pull out of a Christmas tournament after advancing to the semifinals. They played Saturday at the 32nd Coach Kipp Hoopsfest without three starters.On top of that, Gross was knocked to the court on multiple occasions during the game, and frequently grabbed trying to get open. Through it all Downers Grove North took a glittering 18-2 record into Saturday.And showed why, even in defeat.

Playing in the same girls basketball tournament where her father coached Hinsdale Central to the championship 20 years ago, Downers Grove North senior Kate Gross hit 2 free throws against Palatine with 7.6 seconds left in overtime to lift her team to a 38-36 triumph and to within a game of playing for the title of the Bill Neibch Falcon Classic at Wheaton North High School.

Eleanor Harris is one of many Downers Grove North girls basketball players who have been under the weather lately. Yet that didn’t stop the 6-foot-1 senior center from making Glenbard South feel ill on Wednesday. Harris tallied a game-high 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting, and added 3 steals as the second-seeded Trojans knocked off Glenbard South 40-18 in the opening round of the Bill Neibch Falcon Classic at Wheaton North.

When you see a chance, take it.That’s the message Downers Grove North coach Stephan Bolt gave to junior guard Maggie Fleming before Saturday’s game with crosstown rival Downers Grove South.Fleming took it to heart, then took the visiting Mustangs out of the game. She scored the first six points on a pair of 3-pointers, then watched senior guard Kate Gross follow suit.It was all part of an opening barrage that saw the Trojans race out to a 14-0 lead en route to a 54-24 victory.

Lyons Township senior Hailey Markworth should have been exhausted and could have been frustrated by the final minute Friday against Downers Grove North.Luckily for the Lions, Markworth remained assertive.

Allowing on average of just over 25 points per game this season, Downers Grove North’s defensive acumen is well-chronicled. On Wednesday night, the Trojans showed how well they can shoot it too.

Downers Grove North, Naperville North and Benet are among the DuPage County girls basketball teams playing well to start the season.

Downers Grove North had the halftime lead, but wasn’t content. The Trojans girls basketball team walked into the locker room and knew its defense effort needed to improve. Coming out of the break, there was a noticeable difference. Downers Grove North did not allow its first field goal of the third quarter until the final minute as it built on its halftime lead in a 46-27 victory over Yorkville as part of the 32nd Annual Schaumburg Lady Saxons Thanksgiving Classic.

Here’s a look at the girls basketball season in the West Suburban