Girls Basketball: Naperville North escapes in overtime vs Metea Valley
Updated: November 15, 2011 9:55PM
Opening night. Overtime.
Metea Valley guard Bria Walker drilled a stepback three-pointer with 22 seconds left in regulation to force an extra four minutes at Naperville North.
But the Huskies found a way to hang on 57-52 on the strength of 15 points from sophomore guard Delaney White.
“That was a great play by Bria,” North coach Jacquie Discipio said. “Of course you have that sinking feeling for a second, but I knew my girls were playing so much better. The second half we were finally gelling and overtime we were evolving and you could see glimmers of what I think we’re capable of.”
The Huskies (1-0) didn’t take a lead until 1:50 left in the third quarter when White the second of three threes in the period.
She finally got hot after North shot a woeful 7-for-36 from the field in the first half and was down by five at the break.
“We brought our game in the second half and found our shot,” said Walker, who also had four assists and four steals. “I think the first game was just getting used to everything and the new players.”
Metea (0-1) displayed its growth following a growing-pain season last year, taking a quick 7-0 lead and working the ball inside to 6-foot-1 bigs Anna Petersen (12 points) and Lori Obendorf (12 points). Improved guard play was also a modest improvement with Walker netting 15 points and dishing four assists, but errant turnovers in the third quarter proved to be the ultimate undoing.
“We had 24 turnovers tonight,” Metea coach Kris Kalivas said. “Tough to beat anybody when you throw the ball away that much. The frustration was just the third quarter. We just didn’t make good decisions. We’d have a good defensive possession and a steal then try to throw a pass length of the court and give it right back. We can’t do that.”
North senior Shannon Bushman scored 12 points, while freshman Kayla Sharples had 14 points and six rebounds in her debut.
“I’m so happy with Kayla and Delaney,” Discipio said. “I knew they were good, I knew they were ready, but they really jumped in and made such an impact in the first game that it makes me super excited for the rest of the season.”
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