Lindsay Harzich was a complementary player for Benet last season.
Harzich had a key supporting role behind star Lenee Beaumont as the Redwings reached the Class 4A state championship game. But Beaumont is an Indiana freshman, and Harzich’s role is no longer complementary, although the junior guard is getting plenty of compliments for her game.
“Now she’s one of our main scoring options,” Benet coach Joe Kilbride said. “I think we’re going to be one of those teams that on any given night, it could be one of seven or eight different kids.
“She’s definitely one of the people that you’ve got to guard.”
Harzich demonstrated why on Saturday. She made 7 of 10 shots, hitting four 3-pointers, and scored a game-high 19 points in Benet’s 80-44 win against host Naperville Central on the final day of the Tip-Off Tournament.
The Redwings (3-2) made 32 of 61 shots from the field despite playing mostly reserves for much of the second half.
“Honestly, it’s just nice to see some shots go in,” Kilbride said. “We’ve been getting decent looks. We just haven’t been able to make them, and I think we’re going to be a good shooting team.”
The 5-foot-11 Harzich will play a major role in that effort. The lefty hit a series of key shots against the Redhawks (1-4), starting with a go-ahead 3-pointer that broke a 7-7 tie. The game was tied at 13-13 when Harzich scored on a drive, was fouled and converted the three-point play midway through the first quarter. That began a 14-0 run by Benet to end the first quarter.
Harzich sank two more 3-pointers in the second quarter, including a buzzer-beater that boosted Benet’s lead to 47-23.
“Lindsay did amazing, hitting those threes,” senior guard Emilia Sularski said. “She can obviously shoot threes all day, but getting into the midrange, she’s a great lefty. If two people are guarding her, she makes the left-hand layup all the time. It’s insane.”
Harzich, who also had a team-high five rebounds, is ready to increase her production and leadership in her second varsity season.
“I definitely see myself in a bigger role this year, scoring a lot, playing good defense, rebounding,” she said. “Definitely playing without Lenee (is a big adjustment) because we have to learn how to play together without one main star. It’s definitely a process.
“This season didn’t start out right for us, but we’ve been working hard each and every day and getting better each and every day, so that’s a really good improvement for us.”
The Redwings are leaning heavily on twin sisters Emilia and Maggie Sularski for leadership, but Harzich will help out, too, in getting a slew of newcomers acclimated to varsity play.
“Lindsay is a three-level scorer,” Kilbride said. “She can finish at the rim. She’s got that midrange game. She’s a very good three-point shooter. So she’s hard to guard in that respect. She’s a year older, knows what we’re doing, has been through the wars.”
The importance of that experience cannot be overstated.
“We’ve got a lot of new,” Kilbride said. “Having Maggie and Emilia and Lindsay is really valuable.”
Emilia Sularski is looking forward to more big performances from Harzich.
“She’s going to be very important to our team,” Emilia Sularski said. “Whenever I’m off, she’s going to be on. We need that, definitely.
“I’m excited for her and excited for the whole team.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
