Sports
Three Consecutive Three-Pointers Are Key to Win
Ceglarek's three-point shooting helps in upset of streaking Prairie Ridge.
She calls it her line drive to the hoop. And when it goes in, it goes swish.
Maybe Grayslake North junior Allie Ceglarek got a confidence boost from her school's three-point shooting contest. After all, she made 12 of 15 to set her up when the statewide contest kicked in.
On Thursday night, Prairie Ridge, winners of 8 of its last 9 contests, was in Grayslake North. Ceglarek greeted the Wolves with four line shots from beyond the 3-point line. She finished with 16 points in the 58-48 win. It was just the Knights eighth win against 18 defeats.
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"We've improved a lot during the season,'' Ceglarek said. "We are looking forward to the regional."
Grayslake North coach Jim Sarver agreed with the assessment his young team has made strides this season.
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"We are taking little steps,'' Sarver said. "We have lost seven games in the last minute so we are still learning to win."
It was still anyone's game late in the third quarter. That's when the Knights decided to attack from beyond the arc. First it was Jordyn Bowen who nailed her first basket for a three-pointer. A half minute later, Ceglarek ripped another line drive for her fourth trey of the night. And finally freshman Kendall Detweiler followed suit with her first three of the night. A two-point lead was suddenly a 41-30 advantage.
"Our three-point shooting hasn't been good this year,'' Sarver said. "But we were able to hit some shots."
Katie McGrath was solid most of the night and finished with 15 points. Brianna Leon had half of her 8 points in the fourth quarter. The freshman Detweiler added 6 points.
"I take my hat off to North,'' said Prairie Ridge coach Matt Timmerman. "They really shot the ball well. "
With an impressive sophomore team in the building, Sarver is thinking the future of this program is bright. Leon is the lone starting senior moving on.
Regional: The Knights are headed to the North Chicago Regional on Monday night. And they have to play the home-standing Warhawks (7:30 p.m.). And should the Knights prevail, they will return to the same sight on Tuesday night to face the top team in the regional. That's Grayslake Central (6 p.m.). The Rams swept the season series from North this winter.
