Basketball is not Jackie Welch’s best sport.
But New Trier wouldn’t be the same team without the 5-11 senior guard.
Known more for her play on the defensive end, Welch scored 10 of her team-best 14 points in the first quarter in the Trevians’ 61-35 Central Suburban South win over Niles West. With the win, New Trier earned at least a share of the conference title.
Welch said she doesn’t think she’s ever scored in double figures in a quarter. But she had eight points during a 12-0 run that gave the Trevians (24-1, 9-0) a 20-5 lead with 2 minutes, 35 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
New Trier, the No. 3-ranked team by the Chicago Tribune, went into the half ahead 39-15 and its lead was never challenged in the final two quarters.
“Every time I go in [coach Teri Rodgers] tells me to pick up the energy on defense,” Welch said.
Rodgers said Welch’s offense starts with her defense.
“She loves to play, and it’s fun to watch her,” Rodgers said of the three-year varsity player. “Her energy is contagious, and everybody feeds off of it.”
But soccer is Welch’s primary sport at New Trier. As a junior, she started on defense on the Class 3A state championship team.
Welch said she had opportunities to play either basketball or soccer in college, but she decided before her senior year to focus on being a student. She plans to attend Indiana and be the 27th member of her extended family to enroll at the Bloomington university.
“It took me a long time to come up with that,” Welch said of not playing a sport at the next level. “But I’ve never done any hobbies or anything outside of basketball and soccer. I want to find other interests.”
Once her competitive athletic career comes to a close, Welch said she’s looking forward to watching Netflix, spending quality time with friends and family and possibly finding a new pursuit. With a smile on her face, Welch said she was in a knitting club when she was younger.
“I just want to try new things, and I will get that chance at a big school,” she said.
At least for the next several weeks, Welch will be focused on helping the Trevians on the basketball court. This week, New Trier earned the No. 1 seed at the Class 4A Glenbrook South Sectional. The Trevians will be one of the favorites to win a state title.
“I know we all want it so badly,” Welch said. “I definitely see this team doing big things.”
Notes
* New Trier junior guard Kathryn Pedi scored 11 points, and junior center Jeannie Boehm contributed 10 points to the win.
* The Trevians play Glenbrook South on Feb. 13 in the final game of the regular season. The Titans entered Friday in second place in the league at 7-1. New Trier won the first meeting 48-38 on Jan. 9.
* New Trier opens the state playoffs on Feb. 17 in the Niles West Regional semifinals. The Trevians play either Lake View or Mather.
* Niles West was led by junior guard Jalynn Estrada, who scored a game-high 17 points. Senior forward Julia Easter played her first game in several weeks Friday after missing time with a right hand injury. She was limited to about six minutes.
* The Wolves are the No. 8 seed at the Glenbrook South Sectional. They open up Feb. 17 against Taft.
