Sophomore Bella Torres is embracing her starting job for Reavis.
“I was nervous at first,” she said. “It was a big jump from JV and I was not sure if I could keep up. Once I was put in as a starter and learned how I am just as good, it helped me progress.”
Her size might not put fear into her opponents, but Reavis coach Tim Zasada says she’s a competitor.
“She probably should have come up last year,” Zasada said. “She does not pass the eye test because she is 5-foot-4. But she is tough and competitive, so she’s staying on the floor.”
The guard’s speed could not be contained as she scored eight points and had two steals in a 46-40 South Suburban Red win against Oak Lawn on Feb. 5.
Not only did she join varsity this year, but Torres now gets to play alongside her long-time friend and fellow sophomore Daijah Vidana.
“I think since we have a lot of chemistry, we play really well with each other,” Vidana said.
Torres runs track in the spring and plays flag football with Vidana in the fall.
Several Rams are involved in other sports which keeps them extra conditioned and ready to run teams out the building.
“Knowing that we’re winning more just by hustling and doing better and learning is amazing,” Torres said. “It helps us so much and I’m really happy about it.”
Vidana had 10 points and five assists for the Rams (16-9, 7-4 South Suburban Red through last week). Senior guard Delyanna Arocha had a game-high 16 points, while Emily Grochola added eight points and 11 rebounds.
Despite their early deficit, the Spartans (17-11, 7-5) fought back and pulled within a couple baskets. Junior Olivia Perry led the charge with 12 of her 19 points in the second half and grabbed seven rebounds.
“Liv took on more of the responsibility to score the ball and to handle it for us with (Bianca) Fleitas pretty much unable to play due to illness,” Oak Lawn coach Mark Sevedge said. “Liv stepped up and did as much as she could in that role.”
The absence of Fleitas, its top scorer, hurt Oak Lawn. But Sevedge took the blame for the loss after not making adjustments sooner.
“When we have someone as important to our team as Bianca fighting a stomach bug and trying to play but not being able to be herself, we had to adjust,” Sevedge said. “We probably should’ve started pressing earlier in the game, and played with a bigger sense of urgency. That is on me as a coach to make a better adjustment and to make it at the right time of the game.”
Kenadie Haubenreiser grabbed 11 rebounds for the Spartans and Sara Abdelrahem had nine points.
Zasada has a lot of respect for Oak Lawn and was proud of his team for finishing the job.
“It’s a great victory and the girls are excited,” Zasada said. “We’re excited because we know that their program is an elite program — good players and good coaches.”
An extra chemistry boost has come from their coach. Zasada rewards his team with meals after wins and the go-to food spot is Jalisco Restaurant on 79th Street in Burbank.
“We get together after a win and it’s a lot of fun,” Torres said.