Another year, another regional title for Nazareth.
The Roadrunners as dependable as tomorrow’s sunrise, and just as bright.
The 58-36 Class 4A regional win over Young Feb. 19 at Hancock, win No. 30 this season, was the latest example. Leading 11-4 in the game’s fifth minute, with Neelah Leach scoring off passes from 6-foot-3 sophomore Jordyn Ellis, the Dolphins appeared to be a handful.
Then Roadrunners coach Ed Stritzel adjusted the defense to collapse on Ellis when she got the ball.
Suddenly, there was nowhere for her to turn, including to the basket, and the Dolphins’ offense was beached. With Sophie Towne and BYU-bound forward Stella Sakalas leading the way, Nazareth went on an 11-2 run to end the opening quarter, which expanded to 22-4 by halftime.
Before Nazareth was finished, the run was 29-4 and the die was cast. The Roadrunners advanced again, this time to a sectional semifinal assignment Feb. 24 against St. Ignatius on at Hinsdale Central.
“It’s always been our defense,” said Sakalas, whose 31 points led the Roadrunners despite being tightly guarded. “Defense wins games, so we focus on that. We work hard on our offense, but defense is our calling card.
“Our confidence builds as the game goes on and we get more stops, force more turnovers.”
Young committed 13 turnovers.
“We knew they wanted to pound the ball inside, so we had to go hard on the big kid (Ellis),” Stritzel said. “We held our composure. We really locked in.”
Ellis ended up with two points.
At this point, the question is if this year’s team, 30-3 through regional play, is better than last year’s, which was prevented from a state final berth by eventual 4A champ Kenwood, and then only by a point.
“We’re bigger,” Stritzel said. “We were really good offensively last year, but we were small. Our size gives us more options.”
Experience also helps. Young (16-13) started three sophomores. Aside from freshman Mia Gage, who didn’t look out of place in scoring 10 points and grabbing three rebounds and a pair of steals, the Roadrunners started two seniors and two juniors. And they play as a team.
“Stella’s been great since her freshman year, but we have so many other players,” Stritzel beamed. “If you don’t guard Sammy Austin (eight points), she’s going to hit the 3, and Sophia Towne (10 points) is great, and Gage is getting better and better,” Stritzel said.
Nazareth accomplished the rout of Young without 6-foot-2 Hilary Whorlow, out with the flu.