No quit in C-G

Cary-Grove's Olivia Jakubicek guards Geneva's Lauren Wicinski during the Trojans' Huntley Sectional loss Monday night. (Sandy Bressner – sbressner@shawsuburban.com) ( ())

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HUNTLEY – Most teams might have given up after managing only two points in the first quarter against an undefeated powerhouse.

Then again, Cary-Grove’s girls basketball team is not like most.

The Trojans rallied from a 14-2 deficit to pull within one point of high-powered Geneva in the fourth quarter, but they fell just short of the upset. The Vikings (30-0) held on for a 48-41 win in Monday’s IHSA Class 4A Huntley Sectional semifinal game, ending C-G’s season at 26-4. Geneva will face Boylan in the final Thursday after Boylan defeated Hononegah, 62-46.

C-G coach Rod Saffert told his players to be proud.

“They hung with the No. 4 team in the state,” Saffert said. “One of our goals was to prove that we belonged. Because I do think sometimes that people wonder about the kids up here, and who we play and whatnot.

“I couldn’t be prouder of these guys,” Stafford said. “They proved they can play with Geneva.”

C-G nearly proved that it could win.

The Trojans trailed, 14-2, after ice-cold shooting in the first quarter, but they quickly bounced back. Forward Claire Jakubicek and guard Liz Bart scored all of C-G’s points during an 11-0 run to start the second quarter, and the Trojans’ defense clamped down for a 16-13 halftime deficit.

“That’s what we’re all about,” said Bart, who drained four three-pointers and finished with 14 points. “Cary-Grove teams never stay down. We always keep fighting back, and that’s what we did.”

Geneva looked for a quick fix in the second half when it switched exclusively to a match-up zone defense. Yet Bart and Jakubicek kept C-G in the game, teaming up for all 14 of the Trojans’ points in the third quarter to limit the Vikings’ lead to 29-27.

The Trojans cut the lead to 29-28 on a free throw by Jakubicek before the Vikings regrouped. Geneva guard Sammy Scofield hit a crucial three-pointer along the left baseline to extend the lead to five points, and the Vikings made 12 of 16 free-throw attempts in the game’s final quarter to preserve the win.

Despite being double-teamed for most of the night, Jakubicek battled for a team-leading 22 points against a pair of 6-foot-tall post players. The junior forward should expect similar attention next season as she plays alongside her sister, Olivia.

“I told her next year is going to be worse,” Saffert said. “They’re going to double-team you, triple-team you, and that’s fine. She’s a player. She’s absolutely one of the best players in the state, without a doubt.”

Meanwhile, the Trojans proved that they could compete with one of the best teams in the state. Smiles were more common than tears after the game for the Trojans, who overcame midseason adversity when point guard Meg Straumann tore her left ACL in December and did not play again.

“We were all in it together,” Jakubicek said. “It was just such a team effort. I’m so proud of the girls. We played our hearts out.”