VILLA PARK, Ill. – For a small-school team, losing by 30 points to one of the best large-school teams in the state is rarely seen as a reason to provoke soul-searching and an extra dose of introspection.
That sort of margin is expected and accepted. But not with St. Thomas More of Champaign, Ill., the state’s defending runner-up in Class 2A. The Sabers, led by Class of 2016 standout Tori McCoy, play a demanding schedule packed with 3A and 4A schools, the highlight being a matchup against powerhouse Chicago Whitney Young last month.
The Dolphins bludgeoned St. Thomas More in the ChiTown Showdown, one year after the Sabers had put up a strong fight in the teams’ matchup in Champaign. It served as a lesson in disappointment that might yet propel the Sabers to bigger things later this season.
On Saturday, during the first full day of play at the 24th annual McDonald’s Shootout: Chicagoland Girls Prep Classic at Willowbrook High School, St. Thomas More beat Class 4A’s 13th-ranked team, Geneva, 65-57 to show how it has grown in a month’s time.
“I looked in the mirror myself, at what I was doing with them, and maybe pushing them a little too hard, kind of coaching/challenging them as a college coach at that point,” said STM coach Chris Mennig, whose college resume is highlighted by stints at Illinois and Arizona State. “After we got through finals, we all took a deep breath together and said we’re all going to have fun. We’re going to play hard and do what we did to build this program, but not worry about the end result. I know that the process will take care of itself, if we do what we’ve done every year. Since then, there’s more smiles, more connecting, and you can see it.”
The Sabers, ranked No. 1 in Class 2A, have now defeated 4A schools Danville, Neuqua Valley (#6), Geneva (#13) and Fenwick (#15). They also own victories against 3A’s Kankakee Bishop McNamara(#6), Champaign Centennial (#9) & Central, and Mahomet-Seymour. They have also beaten five 1A/2A ranked opponents by an average score of 42 points along the way.
“Any nonconference game I can get (against bigger schools), I’m taking it,” Mennig said. “Everybody has been awesome in allowing us to come up here and be a part of it.”
McCoy was at the center of it, of course. Ranked as Blue Star’s No. 1 sophomore, McCoy had 25 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks and aided the game’s defining run in the fourth quarter. Liz Bristow’s free throw put STM in front 54-53 with three minutes remaining, and McCoy added a layup for a three-point cushion.
Southern Indiana signee Randa Harshbarger added 13 points and seven assists for the Sabers (20-2). Bristow scored 16.
“I made the point the other day that our starting five never got to play together once in the summer,” Mennig said. “So November-December, I had to realize, was really about them learning some chemistry within. Most teams get to do a little of that in the summer time.
“It’s been good to see them buy in and believe in each other more.”
Guard Morgan Seberger led Geneva with 21 points and forward Janie McCloughan added 13. The Vikings hung in despite a rough shooting night from Oakland University-bound guard Sidney Santos. The 6-1 senior shot 1 for 9 and scored her only points with 5:15 left in the game. She eventually fouled out.
For Geneva freshman post Grace Loberg, the matchup was a chance to test herself against the 6-4 McCoy, a member of USA Basketball’s U16 national team. The 6-2 Loberg had six rebounds.
“I think Grace’s potential is huge,” Geneva coach Sarah Meadows said. “Got to get her a little stronger and I have to get her to want to push. Tori is physical, and Grace can get there. She’s just not used to it quite yet. If we can get her to push and elbow a little bit …
“She is so good with her body. She’s so long and has such good body control.”
Benet Academy’s Doyle hits spotlight
The Shootout is an ideal vehicle to showcase up-and-coming players, and Benet Academy’s Kathleen Doyle fits that profile.
Doyle is a 5-foot-8 sophomore who is effective at either guard position. A starter as a freshman, Doyle is an extremely good ballhandler who is quickly finding her scoring role on a team that has several options on that end of the court.
In Benet’s 77-59 victory against Oregon-Davis – Indiana’s top-ranked team in Class 1A – Doyle scored 18 points in unassuming fashion, given that two of her teammates contributed 24 (Emily Schramek) and 19 (Emily Eshoo). Schramek, a 6-foot- junior, and Eshoo, a 5-9 junior, are the top offensive weapons, each possessing sharp range from beyond the three-point arc.
But Doyle’s athleticism and savvy combine for a package that is getting noticed. She has a pass-first mentality but has shown aggressiveness in looking for her own offense when the opportunity is presented.
“I can’t say enough about her,” said retiring Benet coach Peter Paul, a member of the state’s 600-win club. “A lot of teams are really interested in her, and oh, man, we like her. I joke around that I think she will be the (blocked shots) leader as a point guard that we’ve ever had. I think after four years she will have the most blocks as a point guard. She really gets up there.”
Doyle has shined during the club season as a member of Jerald Davis’ Chicago Hoops Express program. She is expected to replace DePaul-bound Lauren Prochaska on the Hoops Express’ top team this year.
Waldron leads WWS comeback victory
DePaul-bound guard Meghan Waldron led Wheaton Warrenville South to a 61-46 victory against Prospect. Waldron had 29 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and three steals while playing in front of Demons coach Doug Bruno, who stood near one basket. He was one of 10 college coaches who attended Saturday’s session.
“It was nice of him to come out,” Waldron said. “AAU prepares you for stuff like that, so I’m kind of used to it.”
The Tigers needed Waldron’s big second half. They trailed 28-21 at the half before outscoring Prospect 22-7 in the third quarter to take control.
“I think we had a great first few minutes of the third quarter and that really set the tone for the whole second half,” Waldron said. “That’s our game. We like to run.”
Waldron’s three-pointer put WWS ahead to stay, and her assist to Olivia Linebarger (11 points) for a fastbreak layup on the next possession helped the Tigers push the lead to three. It never got any closer.
In other Saturday highlights:
–Palatine Fremd got 24 points from guard Haley Gorecki in a 55-35 victory against Burlington Central. Gorecki, rated 58th on Blue Star’s Class of 2015 list, was able to take advantage of a younger Burlington Central team that started four sophomores and a junior.
Fremd (17-2), ranked seventh in Class 4A, got 13 points from sophomore post Bryana Hopkins. Sophomore guard Brianna Lewis added 12.
–Hillcrest defeated Wheaton North 99-92 in overtime in the day’s most entertaining game. Hillcrest shot 56.7 percent from the field and got 26 points and 17 rebounds from senior Shayla Joyner.
–Pickerington (Ohio) North topped Maine West 60-20 behind 21 points from 5-4 junior Aubrey Lukacsko. The Panthers played without Quinnipiac-bound senior Brittany Johnson, who is injured.
–Chicago Brooks guard Akina Wellere overcame an ankle injury to collect 30 points, 19 rebounds, six steals and five assists in her team’s 86-57 win against Plainfield East.
Wellere, a 5-10 junior, has scholarship offers from Marquette, Southern Illinois, Northern Illinois and Eastern Illinois.
