CLC survives scare

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CRYSTAL LAKE – Crystal Lake Central’s girls basketball team needed three quarters to remove an imaginary lid from the basket Wednesday.

The Tigers (18-10) awakened for 13 points in the fourth quarter to rally for a 26-21 win against Woodstock North in an IHSA Class 3A Prairie Ridge Regional semifinal game. They moved on to face host Prairie Ridge in the regional title game Friday.

“We thought we’d come in here and steal one,” Woodstock North coach Mike Lewis said. “I’ve got to give them credit. They knocked down shots in the fourth quarter.”

Crystal Lake Central juniors Shana Sigmund and Brittany York led the way.

The Tigers trailed, 17-13, after three quarters with an anemic offense. But Sigmund started the fourth quarter with a three-point shot to cut the lead to one, and Nelle Youel put the Tigers on top when she stole a pass and drove the length of the court to make it 18-17.

York hit a jump shot from the key on the Tigers’ next possession to extend the lead to 20-17 with about 6 minutes remaining. Woodstock North (7-21) never regained the lead.

Tigers coach Matt LePage said his players tightened up on defense after taking the lead. Woodstock North made 6 of 42 shots from the field for a 14.3 percent field goal percentage.

“It’s hard to play good defense when you’re not making shots,” LePage said. “It’s a confidence thing. Shana and Brittany elevated everybody’s game a little bit.”

Erin Frazier led the Tigers with nine points, and Youel added eight despite a tough night. Emma Everly paced the Thunder with nine points, going 6 for 7 from the free-throw line.

“We played hard,” Lewis said. “We’ve been preaching all week, that for the last couple of weeks, we have not been playing hard. No emotion, no passion, nothing.

“We had a team meeting and we talked it out,” Lewis said. “We’ve been playing hard all week.”

Sigmund said she and her teammates would have to play just as hard Friday.

“We know we’ve got to step it up,” Sigmund said. “Hopefully, this helped us get all the nerves out of playing in regionals so we can be ready for Friday to step it up.”