Girls Basketball notes: ‘She is the true essence of living basketball’ Wheaton North’s Claire Hyde passes 1,000-point career mark

Dave Eaton considers himself an early to the gym kind of guy, but it’s hard for the Wheaton North coach to beat Claire Hyde to the court.

That’s his kind of player.

Over Thanksgiving break, Eaton rolled into the gym around 8:30 a.m. for an 11 a.m. practice to find his senior guard already there getting up shots.

“I say to her ‘You’re in early,’ and she says ‘Not early enough,’” Eaton said. “I’ve coached a lot of years, but not many kids are in the gym as much as she is. She is the true essence of living basketball.”

All that extra work has paid off.

Hyde, a senior guard, eclipsed the 1,000 career point mark this past week with 25 points in a 65-50 win over Downers Grove South. She followed that up with 22 points two days later against St. Francis, bringing her career total to 1,035.

Hyde called the achievement a “huge blessing and privilege,” but was quick to point out that scoring points is less a priority for her than doing everything in her power to help the team win.

“Throughout my high school career I’ve just been trying to take on whatever role I need and being the best player I can in order for this program to be successful, and that definitely means putting points on the board,” Hyde said. “For me the coolest thing [about reaching 1,000 points] was to see how awesome and supportive my family was and the other families on the team when I did hit that milestone. It just gave me so much joy to see these parents and athletes have each other’s back and celebrate each other.”

Hyde’s mark is all the more impressive in that she did it in basically two and a half seasons. She hit some big game-winning shots as a freshman, but wasn’t the focal point of the Falcons’ offense at the time with Nikki Baird around. Hyde had a very good sophomore year, and junior season was basically half a season.

“It’s an impressive feat regardless,” Eaton said. “What’s she done, and how she’s done it, shows what a pure talent she is.”

Hyde, who hopes to play at a Division I school next year, is an ideal role model and leader for a Wheaton North team that is starting a freshman, sophomore and junior.

“Being a leader both by example and vocally for the younger girls on this team is something I knew I needed to step up and take on,” Hyde said. “In my high school career the past three years the senior leaders on this team have all been super elite and effective in how they ran the team. After much time spent with my fellow seniors we have decided that standard should not be compromised, but set even higher this year to maximize our potential.”

Experienced Trojans hit the ground running

Downers Grove North had ample reason to anticipate the 2020-2021 season, with a large amount of girls who got experience as sophomores on the 2020 sectional championship team.

Then COVID hit.

The Trojans were limited to just 13 games, all in conference, in the abridged season, winning a share of the West Suburban Silver. There was no postseason to build off the year before.

Downers Grove North expected to hit the ground running this season after not graduating any seniors – and has done just that. The Trojans are 8-1 heading into a big Silver matchup with York on Wednesday night.

“We had five kids who were part of that Sweet 16 run as sophomores. They got a taste of it, and were hungry their junior year,” Downers Grove North coach Stephan Bolt said. “They didn’t get a chance to do it last year. You talk about having a passion for it. We didn’t have an opportunity last season. They’re taking advantage of every opportunity this year.”

It’s an experienced group led by fourth-year varsity players Kate Gross and Ryann Wendt with five others, including Eleanor Harris, in their third season. Junior Violet Mitchell, who would have been one of eight girls back, tore her ACL in the offseason.

It’s no secret how the Trojans are doing it – with a rock-solid man-to-man defense that’s allowing just 25.4 points per game through nine games. Downers Grove North has allowed fewer than 30 points in its last seven games.

“Every conversation we have is we are going to play man, and we are going to play hard at the defensive end. This group is buying into that,” Bolt said. “Definitely we have some length with Kate Gross who is 5-foot-10, Ryann is 5-11, Eleanor is 6-foot. That length adds to our defense and gives teams problems. I think we can be disruptive and takes teams out of what they want to do.

“We have had three consistent defensive teams. They don’t have a choice to buy into something else. They know what to expect, and their responsibilities at the defensive end of the floor. It comes down to effort and how to execute against certain personnel. The rules don’t change. It’s the same expectations from team to team and the kids have bought in.”

Tourney time

Holiday tournaments are just around the corner. At Wheaton North, Willowbrook and Downers Grove North have earned the top two seeds.

Meanwhile, a tournament to watch is at Morton College, where former Montini coach Jason Nichols has assembled a loaded field that includes Benet, Bolingbrook, Fremd, Simeon, Geneva, Batavia, Kenwood and Evanston. The 16-team event runs from Dec. 27-30.