New Trier’s victory in the Class AA Northside Prep girls regional final Friday night–that was expected.
What was unexpected was the decision earlier this week by 6-foot-4-inch senior Katherine Dykstra, who quit the Trevians’ basketball team Wednesday.
After New Trier moved on to the sectionals with a 67-33 victory over the host team, senior Deirdre Naughton had this to say about the recent events: “I know a lot of other teams are definitely going to be thinking that we’re a different team without Katherine. We don’t believe that.
“For two days it was something that was brought up, and now it’s been put behind us, because we really need to concentrate on other stuff.”
Dykstra had returned to the team a little more than two weeks ago after sitting out almost two months with stress fractures. But Wednesday, a day after New Trier started tournament play, Dykstra told coach Teri Rodgers she would have to give up basketball. The Wisconsin volleyball signee has decided to continue playing club volleyball.
“This is our team,” said Rodgers, watching her remaining 17 players cut down the netting in Northside Prep’s gym. “They came in and did a great job.”
Her comment about Dykstra’s absence: “That’s behind us.”
Champions of the Public League’s Chicago Conference North, the Mustangs (15-15) played New Trier (27-4) virtually even for the opening six minutes. A three-pointer by sophomore Angie Nizio with 3 minutes 40 seconds left in the first quarter cut New Trier’s lead to 9-7.
That was as close as Northside Prep would get.
New Trier’s main contributions came from Naughton (16 points, three steals), Jenny Samuelson (13 points, five steals, four assists), 6-4 Amy Jaeschke (12 points, eight blocks, nine rebounds) and Ann Hickey (10 points, five rebounds).
Nizio, a 5-8 guard, led Northside Prep with 15 points. “We brought it to them hard and tried our best,” Nizio said. “That’s a very good team.”
Evanston, which handed New Trier one of its four losses, faces the Trevians at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Niles West sectional.
