Wheaton South pulls away from New Trier

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New Trier's Maggie Lyon (25) catches a ball bobbled by Maine South's Regan Carmichael (13) on Jan. 13, 2012, in Park Ridge. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media

Updated: February 20, 2012 8:40AM

It’s difficult to withstand a 14-0 scoring run from an opponent, especially like the one a quality Wheaton Warrenville South team posted against New Trier on Saturday.

New Trier’s girls basketball team scrapped and clawed its way back, but the Tigers’ offensive third quarter spurt proved to be too much in a 49-45 loss for the Trevians at the 22nd Annual McDonald’s Shootout.

New Trier (13-6) is ranked No. 20 by the Sun-Times, while WW South (16-2) is ranked No. 24.

“They’re a good team so give them credit, but we just didn’t do the necessary things to stop a team like that,” New Trier coach Teri Rodgers said. “We showed that we’re good enough to do it. We just didn’t do it all the time. Every time we gave them an inch, they took it.”

Emma Rossi posted a career-high 20 points and teammate Maggie Lyon had a fine all-around game for New Trier, but the four-point lead WW South constructed after three quarters held to the final buzzer.

“I think our transition defense could have been better,” Rossi said. “We have to hustle back. We like to transition so when we play against teams that also like to transition, we have to work on that. And they had too many offensive rebounds.”

Brigit Ieuter scored all five of her points in the first quarter and the Trevians held an 18-16 lead at halftime over the Tigers. Lyon finished with six assists and most of those found the hands of Rossi, who spent the day hustling up the wing for easy baskets.

“My teammates gave me some great passes and I just put it in,” Rossi said. “It was all my teammates. I just had to put it in.”

With the Tigers staying constantly aware of where Lyon was on the floor, she didn’t force the issue. The Northwestern-bound senior only had nine points on the day but she finished with 11 rebounds, six assists, and three steals.

“We talked about getting out in transition and Maggie did a great job of finding (Rossi),” Rodgers said. “(Lyon) wasn’t getting her looks and she didn’t play selfish. She found the open person and Emma was the recipient of that. And Emma made a couple great catches. She’s a great athlete and she was able to finish.”

New Trier led 22-16 in the third quarter on a 12-foot jumper from Jessica Blackwell and a Lyon feed to Rossi. The Tigers ran out to a 30-22 lead by driving to the basket and keeping the Trevians off the scoreboard until Colleen McConnell (6 points) sank two free throws and Lyon scored late in the quarter to make it 30-26.

Two Lyon free throws cut New Trier’s deficit to 30-28 in the fourth quarter, but the Tigers never gave up the lead. The Lyon-Rossi connection struck again to cut South’s lead to 41-40 with 1:30 left to play but the Tigers’ Meghan Waldron (13 points) scored at the basket and pulled down a decisive rebound on a subsequent New Trier shot down the stretch.

“We get better from playing good teams,” Rossi said. “It’s good that we play against good teams like (WW South) because we’re a good team and this only makes us better.”

On Friday, New Trier felt the full force of Maine South’s fury.

After the Trevians beat the Hawks on Dec. 2, the Hawks patiently waited for payback.

Maine South wasted no time asserting itself in the 63-43 win over New Trier.

Michelle Maher scored the game’s first five points, and No. 8-ranked Maine South went up 10-0 in the first two minutes. The Hawks led by as many as 15 in the first quarter, and the Trevians could never catch up.

“It was a big hole, and it gave them confidence,” Trevs coach Rogers said. “It was hard to fight our way back.”

Lyon led all scorers with 16. But the Trevians struggled to string points together. They only scored consecutive baskets three times through three quarters. 

“I felt like we didn’t shoot with confidence, and our shots were rushed,” Rodgers said. “That’s a tribute to their defense.”

Rossi followed Lyon with eight points. Meg Rosinski, Blackwell and McConnell each scored four points.

The loss effectively ended New Trier’s bid for a CSL South championship, dropping the Trevians to 2-4 in the conference.

— Matt Harness also
contributed