Naperville Central junior middle Annabelle Kritzer knew she wasn’t the principle attraction on Thursday. That didn’t cease her from stealing the present.
Many within the massive crowd got here to see two of the very best gamers within the state, and Naperville Central senior guard Trinity Jones and Waubonsie Valley senior guard Danyella Mporokoso didn’t disappoint.
However the 6-foot-4 Kritzer offered a compelling bonus observe to the proverbial soundtrack.
“It was a brilliant enjoyable atmosphere to play in,” Kritzer stated. “The entire stands was crammed. It was loud, and there was folks cheering for each groups, and it was only a enjoyable expertise. I’m glad I bought to be part of it.”
Kritzer performed an enormous half within the consequence, ending with 20 factors and a game-high 18 rebounds because the host Redhawks, who’re ranked No. 6 in Class 4A within the ballot by The Related Press, upended the beforehand unbeaten No. 2 Warriors 75-60 in Naperville to take management within the DuPage Valley Convention.
The Redhawks (17-3, 5-0), who stopped Waubonsie Valley’s 35-game regular-season unbeaten streak and 25-game convention profitable streak, led 47-21 at halftime. The Warriors (18-1, 4-1) trailed by as many as 28 factors within the third quarter.
“I’m simply actually happy with our women,” Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum stated. “I assumed we have been enjoying group basketball, and group basketball doesn’t imply everyone will get equal photographs. However we bought the ball to the folks we would have liked to get the ball to.”
That included the 6-2 Clemson-bound Jones, who scored 32 factors, in addition to senior level guard Erin Hackett. That duo has executed the majority of the scoring this season.
However this time Kritzer bought within the act whereas dominating the glass at each ends of the ground.
“That’s in all probability Annabelle’s finest offensive efficiency of her profession,” Nussbaum stated. “We current an issue for them as a result of we’ve bought two tall gamers on the market, and so they solely have one.
“So after all they’ve bought to provide Trinity consideration, so I used to be tremendous pleased with the best way Annabelle performed. She was on the offensive boards, and I assumed each Trinity and Erin discovered her when she was open.”
Kritzer was not often open throughout the Redhawks’ 65-49 loss to Loyola on Jan. 5. However she was towards the Warriors and was calling for the ball.
“This sport was an thrilling sport,” Kritzer stated. “We’ve been trying ahead to all of it week, and we simply got here out robust. We did very well passing. Credit score my teammates for getting me the ball, and I’m tremendous enthusiastic about this win.”
Hackett, a Carthage commit, had 17 factors, seven rebounds, 5 assists and two steals towards Waubonsie Valley, which bought 23 factors from Illinois State-bound Mporokoso. Most of Hackett’s assists went to Kritzer, who scored repeatedly within the lane.
“The positioning on protection actually labored out simply to assist her get these rebounds,” Hackett stated. “We put her in a great place to try this, and he or she clearly executes these rebounds each sport.
“I really feel like she has double-digit rebounds nearly each sport, in order that’s actually useful, and her making her layups at present and performing some publish strikes simply actually helped us out with getting that lead.”
Whereas Kritzer remains to be rising into her substantial athleticism, she’s beginning to change into a powerful power on offense.
“The largest factor we’ve been engaged on together with her is protecting the ball up as a result of she’s so tall,” Hackett stated. “So as a substitute of bringing it down and getting these leap balls, she’s actually stored it up and is placing it again. That was the largest factor that helped her out.”
Kritzer made 7 of 10 photographs, together with all 4 makes an attempt within the first half. One was a 3-pointer from the highest of the important thing off an help from Hackett that got here throughout a 27-7 run.
“I haven’t made a 3 in a number of video games, so I’ve been wanting to try this,” Kritzer stated. “I’ve been capturing lots in apply, and so it was nice to make that.”
Kritzer was so nice defensively that she had simply six fewer rebounds than the Warriors, who shot 7 for 33 within the first half whereas getting just one offensive rebound.
“We all know she’s a rebounder, and we all know she’ll go get the rebound,” Waubonsie Valley coach Brett Love stated. “We needed to get extra offensive rebounds.
“We didn’t do in addition to we needed to, however we knew we needed to contend together with her on the boards. That’s what she does finest.”
Matt Le Cren is a contract reporter.
