Lincoln-Way girls` basketball coach Jim Gutierrez did his best to keep his players from thinking too much about the 32-team Galaxy Invitational that began Saturday. Still, he knew his No. 1-seeded team would draw a lot of attention.
The Knights have been concentrating on their Feb. 28 rematch with South Inter-Conference Association West Division rival Lockport. Lincoln-Way (15-2) will try to avenge its only league defeat against the Porters.
”With the regular season to think about, we didn`t really put much emphasis on the tournament,” Gutierrez said before the tournament. ”At this point in the year, we`re more worried about the regular season. Obviously, being seeded No. 1, it makes somebody`s season to beat us.”
Saturday, it helped make Illiana Christian`s season. The Class A power
(14-1) came from behind to knock the Class AA Knights out of the tournament 43-41 in a second-round game at Rich South. It is the third consecutive year that Lincoln-Way hasn`t gotten past the second round in the three-day meet.
Illiana Christian`s Suzanne Wiltjer, who had inadvertently scored a basket for Lincoln-Way at the end of the third period, hit the game-winner with 10 seconds to play. Illiana Christian trailed 23-16 at halftime.
The Knights` couldn`t send the game into overtime. Mary McGivern`s shot at the buzzer rolled off the rim. McGivern led all scorers with 20 points.
Second-seeded Wauconda also was knocked out of the tournament in a 52-51 second-round loss to Joliet Central.
Lincoln-Way has four starters scoring in or near double figures. McGivern averages 12 points and 5 assists a game and Michelle DeGroot, a 5-foot-10-inch junior, averages 11 points and 8 rebounds. Senior forward Tracy Doyle averages 10 points and senior guard Cyndee Chopp averages 9 a game.
Gutierrez calls McGivern the best point guard in the south suburbs. She was on the all-tournament team at the Hillcrest Christmas tournament.
Carrie Guendling is the team`s defensive specialist. She sparks the Knights` match-up zone and pressure defenses that have held opponents to an average of 40 points a game.
In their first meeting, Lockport beat Lincoln-Way 60-48. Lockport`s Mary Jo Waddell (6-0) and Andra Dystrup (5-10) gave the Knights trouble inside.
”Hopefully, when we play them again, we`ll be more relaxed,” Gutierrez said. ”Their size inside kept us off the boards and kept us away from our fast-break offense. Next time, we`ll try to go over there and see what happens.”
