Serena uses big third quarter in win over Newark to claim LTC title

SERENA — Every high school basketball team dealt with adversity in this shortened season, though, some more than others. Whether it be just the start of the season being pushed back a couple months, having to play with masks, or dealing with missing games because of quarantines.

The Serena girls basketball team had to dealt with all three, in addition to not being able to participate in the Little Ten Conference Tournament.

However, the Lady Huskers overcame every obstacle thrown their way, including rival Newark here on Al Stegman Court on Friday Night.

Serena (11-2, 7-0) trailed by one at halftime, but used a defensive adjustment to outscore the Lady Norsemen 16-2 in the third quarter to help them eventually capture a 49-36 victory to claim it’s second straight LTC regular-season title, fourth overall, and first outright championship since 2000.

The hosts switched up from their bread-and-butter full-court pressure to a half-court look in the second half after Newark (8-2, 6-1) netted seven of its eight baskets in the second quarter after breaking the press to lead 27-26 at the intermission.

“We talked about how we were going to handle things with our press even before the game,” said Serena coach Jim Jobst. “With this being the third game in as many nights and fourth this week, we just wanted to see how it went early. I didn’t think it went well and we decided to just focus on getting pressure in our half-court defense in the second half.

“I can’t say how proud of I am of this group. They battled through so much this season and have continued to stay positive and focussed on playing the game.”

Junior guard Katie Baker, who surpassed the 1,000-career point mark on Thursday in a win over Somonauk to become the ninth Lady Husker and 49th LTC girls player to reach the milestone, posted 21 points, seven assists and an eye-popping 15 steals — the latter tying her for ninth on the single-game all-time list according to IHSA.org.

“Missing the Little Ten Conference Tournament really hurt. I feel tonight was a little bit of a second chance. Throughout the game I just couldn’t help thinking about not getting to play in the tournament because I feel we had a really good chance to win it.

“Tonight was our tournament championship.”

—  Serena junior guard Katie Baker

“I knew I was in reach, but I really didn’t know I was that close. It’s cool, but to be honest, I just wanted to win the game,” said Baker of the reaching the landmark number. “Missing the Little Ten Conference Tournament really hurt. I feel tonight was a little bit of a second chance. Throughout the game I just couldn’t help thinking about not getting to play in the tournament because I feel we had a really good chance to win it.

“Tonight was our tournament championship.”

The two Serena seniors, Kallie Cantlin (13 points, two assists) and Taylor Staton (nine points, eight rebounds), played well, as did freshman Paisley Twait (six points, eight rebounds).

“It something that you see, players cutting down the nets after winning a title, but it is just something different when it’s your turn to do it,” said Cantlin. “I think I put the right amount of pressure on myself tonight, but after we sat down and all talked during halftime, I feel we were all just more calm and comfortable. I’m not sure what was going on in the first half with us, but we worked things out and played really well in the second half.”

Newark was paced by KJ Friestad’s 16 points, with 11 points and 11 rebounds coming from Kaitlyn Hatteberg, and Kellie Snyder’s 10 rebounds and seven steals.

“This has been a great group of girls to work with and the three seniors (Emily Schofield, Kailee Borton, and Hatteberg) have given so much to the program. It’s tough to lose the last one here, but we still finished 8-2 with the conference tournament championship.”

—  Newark coach Barb Scott

“I thought we played a pretty good first half and I was happy with where we were at at halftime,” said Newark coach Barb Scott. “But then in the second half we turned the ball over way to many times (34 for the game) and Serena was able to convert at the other end. I was happy with the way the girls battled back late in the third and early in the fourth to cut it to nine. I’m so proud of our effort and fought to the end.

“This has been a great group of girls to work with and the three seniors (Emily Schofield, Kailee Borton, and Hatteberg) have given so much to the program. It’s tough to lose the last one here, but we still finished 8-2 with the conference tournament championship.”