Bring on the Saxons!
Barrington prepared for its regional opener Tuesday at Schaumburg by dominating Prospect under the boards en route to a 57-46 victory in the Mid-Suburban League crossover game for fifth-place finishers.
Freshman Nicki Eason led the charge, scoring 24 points and hauling down 13 rebounds for the 6-19 Fillies. Eason scored 10 points in the third quarter when Barrington opened a 20-point lead with just under 3 minutes remaining. Prospect (10-16) rebounded to score six unanswered points, including four by Alison Campbell, who finished with 22 points, before the period ended with Barrington on top 49-31.
Prospect chipped at the lead steadily through the fourth quarter, but the closest the Knights could come was the final score when Kelly Lowery hit with 17 seconds remaining.
The Fillies controlled the game early and raced to an 11-4 lead. Coach Babbi Barreiro permitted Anne Sturtevant to take liberties at the three-point arc, and the senior guard took full advantage by attempting five treys in the first 8 minutes. None found the mark, but Eason and Laura Degelleke were open enough underneath to rebound and score on putbacks.
“The difference was we did not give them second opportunities,” Barreiro said. “Getting quick putbacks helped out, too.”
Sturtevant, who finished with a dozen points, finally connected early in the second period. She hit a pair from long distance in the quarter as Barrington opened up a 23-12 lead. The Fillies held a 30-16 advantage at intermission.
Prospect pressed early in the third quarter, but the Fillies consistently found an open player and eventually easy baskets. Eason alone scored on three layups off broken presses.
“They didn’t get rattled, and just tried to get through it (the press). Then they put it down,” Barreiro explained.
The same can’t be said for Prospect, which missed three first-quarter layups after coolly working the ball underneath.
Campbell, who scored 16 points in the second half, earned high praise from coach Mike Nocella. “She’s a team player. If things aren’t happening, then she tries to do it by herself. Tonight she had some success scoring.”
Teammate Casey Buckstaff finished with 11 points after sitting out a week with an ankle injury. Nocella said the 5-foot-9-inch forward should be fully recovered for Monday’s regional opener at Fremd.
