The Riverside-Brookfield girls basketball team likes to use the fast-break as much as possible during any game. On Saturday, the Bulldogs showed they know how to run a marathon as well as a sprint.
Riverside-Brookfield outlasted rival Lyons Township for a 59-54 double overtime victory in a non-conference match-up. Senior guard Jessie Hutchens scored nine of her 21 points during the two extra periods to fuel the visiting Bulldogs’ gritty win.
“It’s a neighborhood battle,” said RB coach Larry Rocco. “Whenever we play LT or Nazareth, or they play each other, it’s just one of those big games, especially for the players.”
Applying intense defensive pressure, the Bulldogs opened the game on an 11-0 run en route to taking a 13-5 lead at the end of the first quarter. Lyons cut the deficit to 23-19 at the half, and eventually took the lead late in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, RB outscored the Lions 17-12 to force overtime.
The Bulldogs (17-4) took a 50-44 lead in the first overtime, but LT battled back knotting the score at 50-50. With RB clinging to a 57-54 lead in the second overtime, the Lions launched a shot in the closing seconds. After the Lions’ misfired, RB center/forward Shaquita Slater instinctively threw the ball down court, which was scooped up by Hutchens for a game-ending layup.
“LT is always a tough game, but we felt prepared to do well,” said RB center Kelsey Egger. “We’re developing well as a team. A lot of the girls have learned how to work together really well. We’re clicking together now.”
Slater turned in an excellent all-court performance with 12 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and four steals, while Anna Tess scored seven. Lindsay Esposito tallied a game-high 23 points and Colleen Connors added 10 points for LT (6-15).
Although the Lions have struggled this year, their talented, junior class of Esposito, Connors, Danielle Beck, Riley Donovan, Hannah Drogosz, Kelly Bastyr, Kamey Murphy, Samantha Yelnick and Daja Lester (21-0 as sophomores) bodes well for the future.
“We have had some tough overtime losses this season,” LT coach Dawn Schabacker said. “The girls are working hard.”
