Freshman Detweiler Delivers Downstate

With a great performance on a big stage come high expectations.

Upon watching freshman Kendall Detweiler reach the final four in the Queen of the Hill three-point shooting contest in Normal, head Grayslake North coach Jim Sarver announced what he thought Detweiler could do during basketball season next winter.

"I expect her to shoot a high percentage of her three-point shots,'' Sarver said. "In our offense, we expect her to shoot it. I think she will be a special player."

Detweiler made a solid splash as a freshman on Sarver's varsity team. But she waited to the season was over for her biggest achievement. Detweiler was the lone freshman in field of 64 shooters in both Class 3A and 4A. And she reached the Final Four on Saturday afternoon.

"I wasn't as nervous on Saturday when it went down from 32 to just four,'' Detweiler said. "There were a lot of people watching who were waiting for the game to start. But you don't realize they are there when you are shooting."

With no sign of nerves, the freshman sank 8 shots which was good for a tie for second place in Class 3A. That followed her performance of 10 on Thursday night followed by six in the extra session.

Detweiler naturally had to wind her way through the team tryouts to the regional and sectional. She made her way to Normal with her parents, her grandfather and her best friend.

"I've always been a good shooter,'' she said. "And my confidence kept on building."

If nerves didn't take her away in the statewide three-point shooting contest then playing varsity ball during her freshman season most likely didn't bother her either.

"I started playing travel ball in sixth grade and loved it,'' Detweiler said. "It was really fun to play this year. Hopefully, I can come back next year and have a good year."