Seniors Keira Kessler and Ashley Airhart quickly have evolved from inexperienced varsity players to key reserves for the Lyons Township High School girls basketball team.

“(We) both knew coming into the season we were going to have to step up with just the new year and everyone knowing everyone’s skills,” Kessler said.

On Friday, the two helped the Lions nearly pull off the improbable – coming back from a 20-point, second-quarter deficit against talented York.

LTHS forced overtime and even took the lead before losing 50-46 in La Grange for the early lead in the West Suburban Conference Silver Division race.

The Lions (9-4, 4-1 in Silver) have won the last two titles with perfect 12-0 records.

“Since the very beginning we were playing a little not ourselves. We knew we wanted that win so we just had to battle back,” LTHS junior Nora Ezike said.

“(LTHS coach Meghan Hutchens) was stressing to rebound and play good defense. She was saying a lot how defense generates offense so we knew that we had to get stops on defense if we were ever going to come back.”

Ezike had 15 points and 12 rebounds coming off a career-high 32 points Dec. 12 at Glenbard West. Senior Elin O’Brien (9 points) and sophomore Avery Mezan (8 points) each had two threes and senior Kennedy Wanless had seven points and nine rebounds.

Hannah Meyers and Anna Filosa each had 20 points and five and four, respectively, of 11 three-pointers by York (8-3, 4-0).

Filosa’s final three put York ahead 47-46 with 1:49 left in overtime. Meyers added one of two free throws with 27.0 seconds remaining for a two-point advantage.

With the Lions trying to tie, Mezan lobbed inside to Wanless, but Filosa blocked the shot, got the rebound and was fouled. Filosa made both free throws with 6.7 seconds left.

The Lions trailed 31-11 in the second quarter but closed to 31-20 by halftime and 42-36 entering the fourth quarter.

“We turned it around in the second half for sure,” Hutchens said.

“The bottom line is York deserved it more. They came out and went for those rebounds and shot well and we didn’t stick to our game plan so therefore it was difficult to take an early lead like we’re used to. I give (our players) a lot of credit. They fought back but we can’t dig ourselves that big of a hole because we’re just not willing to pay attention to the details.”

Kessler had four points and four rebounds in the second half. Airhart made a second-quarter three and had four rebounds.

“Keira and Ashley gave us some really good minutes, some important rebounds, some good, aggressive defense,” Hutchens said. “We need some people to come off the bench. They took great shots, rebounded. They did every little piece that we needed them to do.”

The Lions also lost in overtime to Whitney Young 46-45 Dec. 3, but that game was close throughout.

“When we switched to (man-to-man defense against York), we became more aggressive,” Kessler said. “We fought for the hard rebounds, the 50-50 balls and I think that’s what got us back in the game.”

In the 63-51 victory over Glenbard West, Ezike was everywhere offensively with 32 points and 15 rebounds. Emma O’Brien added 10 points.

The single-game school record is 39 points by Mallory Heydorn. Ezike scored 24 points last season.

“At the beginning, my shots were falling so I kept taking the shots,” Ezike said. “I was making my threes, making my free throws, getting looks inside so I think everything was just working for me.”

On Saturday, the Lions defeated Lincoln-Way Central 53-34, only the Knights’ second loss. Ezike (20 points, 6 rebounds), Mezan (10 points), Kessler (6 points on 2 threes) and Emma O’Brien (7 points, 4 steals) paced LTHS.

The Lions next play Mother McAuley in the opening round of the 16-team Morton College Tournament Dec. 27-30.