On any other night, Katie Meyers would be the story. The only story.
The 6-foot junior tied a school record with 29 points to lift host Lyons Township over sixth-ranked Fenwick 61-52 in the Great Eight girls basketball tournament Friday night in LaGrange.
But even Meyers was aware of the story this day.
“I knew Amanda was coming back,” said Meyers, who also had nine rebounds. “We did it for her.”
Two weeks ago, the IHSA ruled Amanda Papuga ineligible. She had transferred to Lyons from Fenwick before the season started but allegedly had already practiced with the Friars.
According to IHSA rules, that meant she couldn’t play for another team during the 1997-98 season.
But Friday at 11:30 a.m., she learned she would be playing against her old teammates that night. Stan Papuga, her father and an attorney, had filed a preliminary injunction in state court.
The IHSA notified Lyons that Papuga, who had 13 points and grabbed four rebounds Friday night, could play.
“She’ll be able to play this weekend,” IHSA executive director Dave Fry said Friday evening.
“As for the rest of the season, we’ll reflect on it this weekend.”
The game, to say the least, was an emotional one for the 5-7 junior.
“I felt a little out of it the first half,” she said. “I had knots in my stomach before the game.
“All I wanted to do was play basketball.”
That’s exactly what Meyers did, scoring Lyons’ first nine points and 17 of the Lions’ first 22.
Then Papuga hit a three-pointer with 4 minutes 2 seconds left in the first half, putting Fenwick down 25-13.
But the Friars went on a 9-0 run, pulling to within 27-24 at halftime.
Instead of fading, No. 17 Lyons Township (17-5) took control again in the second half and took control for good when Papuga’s second three-pointer of the game gave her new team a 32-29 lead.
Two free throws by sophomore Katie O’Grady (21 points) got Fenwick within 53-50 with 1:57 left.
But that’s as close as the Friars (21-3) would get.
“She wasn’t totally happy with her game,” Lyons coach Dawn Schabacker said of Papuga. “But the team reacted well to her.”
Fenwick coach Dave Power would not comment on Papuga but had praise for her teammate.
“Katie Meyers was unconscious,” he said. “She had a great game.”
