Sometimes it’s not the points you score, but the points you don’t allow to be scored that can make you a valuable player.
In that regard, Homewood-Flossmoor senior Karli Seay was as valuable as gold in the fourth quarter of Monday’s game against East Chicago Central in the Subway Classic at Willowbrook.
Seay’s defensive effort paid big dividends in the Vikings’ 64-54 victory.
Finess Dickson led the way offensively for H-F (13-2) with 20 points. Nadia Green added 19 points, while Eva Rubin contributed nine points and 10 rebounds and Michelle Pruitt had seven points.
Seay scored five points, but the 5-foot-7 guard did her most important work guarding East Chicago scoring machine Jenasae Bishop.
Bishop, a junior guard, lit up H-F for 34 points over three quarters. After that, Seay said no more.
Bishop, who shot 11-for-13 through three, was 0-for-4 in the fourth quarter before hitting a 3-pointer with seven seconds left.
By then, the Vikings had turned what had been a nail-biter into a relatively comfortable win.
Seay’s formula wasn’t complicated.
“It was energy,” she said. “I just had to pick it up. In the first half I wasn’t having that much energy. Coach (Tony Smith) just told me I had to stop her.”
Seay hit four free throws over the final two minutes, but it was her defense down the stretch that had Smith nodding his head with approval.
“It was the difference in the game,” he said. “It’s a thankless job to cover and not score. It’s a tremendous advantage for us to have a kid who will take that role and say, ‘OK, I’ll try it.'”
Another difference-maker was Green.
The Vikings were clinging to a 52-48 lead with just under four minutes remaining she made a breakneck drive up the middle of the lane and scored on a 7-foot jumper. The next time the Vikings had the ball, Green threw a pass from the backcourt that Pruitt turned into a layup at the other end.
Big moments. Big plays.
“I was just playing my role and going hard for the team,” Green said. “I love challenges like these. They make me want to go all out against competitive teams.”
Dickson was huge as the Vikings sparred with Central to a 48-48 standoff after three quarters. She shot 6-for-11 from the floor and an even-more proficient 8-for-10 from the line.
“I was really just playing off of my teammates,” Dickson said. “Nadia was doing well on offense, and Eva (Rubin) was being a good presence in the post. So it opened me up and it was just my job to drop down the shots.”
Lincoln-Way East 52, Huntley 36: Carolyn Waleski had 18 points and eight steals for East (13-8) in the consolation championship at DeKalb.
Marian Catholic 57, South Shore 52: Shannan Mitchell’s 21 points boosted Marian (11-11) in the Subway Classic.
Marshall 53, Crete-Monee 37: Khaliah Herbert scored 15 points to lead Crete-Monee (10-9) at Malcolm X.
Providence 57, Naperville North 46: Ryann Ogarek had 19 points and 10 rebounds for Providence (14-7) in the Subway Classic.
Rich South 46, Grayslake North 36: Nade’ge Jean totaled 16 points and 11 rebounds for Rich South (11-10), which split its four games in downstate Washington.
Boys Basketball
Lemont 72, Mount Carmel 62: P.J. Pipes scored a game-high 27 points for Lemont (10-8) at Oswego.
Plainfield North 70, Crete-Monee 55: Dwayne Rose contributed 17 points and Carrington Bass added 15 for Crete-Monee (9-7) at Oswego.
Warren 62, Homewood-Flossmoor, 45: Sterling Fields and Nick Holmes had 13 points each for H-F (13-5) in the third-place game at Wheaton Warrenville South.
Awards & Honors
DeCesare to coach in All-American Game: St. Rita basketball coach Gary DeCesare has been chosen to lead the West team in the McDonald’s High School All-American Game on March 29 at the United Center.
Twitter @tbaranek
Freelance writer Josh Krockey contributed.
