Girls Basketball: Yorkville Pays Price for Slow Start

The Hot Read: After 4 minutes, Yorkville trailed Kaneland 9-2 in Monday's girls basketball matchup. The Foxes regrouped but couldn't overcome the slow start in a 45-39 setback that came on the heels of more than a week-long layoff. Yorkville increased its defensive pressure in the second quarter, holding the Knights to four points, and pulled within 15-12 at half. A strong third quarter by Yorkville’s Jenny Taptich brought the Foxes within two points of Kaneland, but ultimately missed shots and a string of fouls in the fourth quarter decided the game.

Patch’s MVP: Yorkville’s Jenny Taptich (12 points, 3 steals, 1 rebound). A seven-point scoring run by Taptich in the third quarter brought the Foxes within two points of Kaneland.

Key stats: Kaneland started off the game with four fouls to Yorkville’s zero, setting the Foxes up to take advantage of free throw shots. However, Yorkville made only 7-of-14 from the line. Meanwhile, Kaneland took advantage of Yorkville fouls, hitting 15-of-19 from the free throw line.

Yorkville Leaders: Jenny Taptich (12 points, 3 steals, 1 rebound), Alicyn Hester (8 points, 2 rebounds, 3 steals), Jordann Dhuse (6 points, 5  rebounds, 3 steals).

Kaneland Leaders: Kelly Evers (12 points), Emily Heimerdinger (12 points), Kris Bowen (10 points).

Quoteable: “We lost it in the first three minutes of the game when we were down 9-2,” Yorkville coach Luke Engelhardt said. “When we came out, we were sluggish, extremely sloppy, turning the ball over, making a lot of stupid mistakes … it was frustrating. In the second half, they played harder. They did respond a little bit, but it was just too late.”

Team records: Yorkville, 11-11 and 2-7 in the Northern Illinois Big 12 East. Kaneland, 11-11 and 3-5.

What’s next: Yorkville has another home game at 7 p.m. Tuesday against Sandwich (13-13), and Kaneland plays at Marengo at 7 p.m. Tuesday.