A classic match-up of two state powerhouses turned bloody in Villa Park on Saturday night. Pennsylvania-bound senior, Erin Power, of Fenwick caught an elbow to the nose in the third quarter and left the game briefly only to return in the fourth to a standing ovation. But her inspirational return to action was not enough to carry her team to victory, as Fenwick lost to Bolingbrook 54-48 in front of 2,577 exuberant fans.
The game was part of the 17th Annual McDonald’s Shootout in which 27 of the top girls’ high school basketball teams competed. The event also showcased some of the top individual talents in the Midwest region.
The result of the battle between the state’s top two ranked teams was a new number one team. The Friars (18-1) entered the contest No. 1 in the state and No. 2 nationally in the latest USA Today poll. The defending state champion Raiders (16-1) entered the game ranked No. 2 in the state and eighth nationally.
Something had to give.
Bolingbrook jumped out to an early lead inspired by a suffocating defense that forced several turnovers and fast break baskets. Two twisting layups by Bolingbrook guard Brittney Thomas, who had 12 points and six rebounds, besides leading her team in assists on the strength of a deft floor game, put the Raiders up 15-6 after one quarter. Thomas put her team on her shoulders and was the general on the floor, handling the ball and making excellent decisions throughout the contest.
After heading into the intermission down nine, 28-19, Fenwick showed a lot of heart, coming back in the second half on the offensive prowess of Devereaux Peters. Peters scored 13 of her game high 17 points in the second half and was the spark of a comeback for the Friars. An old fashioned three-point play by the senior center with one minute left in the third cut the deficit to three, but that was as close as the Friars would get.
“I think after Erin came out, we needed to play harder,” Peters said. “Maybe their screaming and yelling got to us a little bit, they are an intimidating team. We didn’t play how we usually play. If we play the way we are capable of playing, their defense wouldn’t have bothered us.”
Power (8 points) showed a lot of courage coming back after the elbow to the nose. The senior tried mightily to inspire a comeback during a second half in which the Friars played much better basketball, especially on defense.
“Bolingbrook is a fine team,” Fenwick coach Dave Power said. “We had college refs out there tonight. They let them play and it got very physical. That’s not our game. In the second half we adjusted though. High school refs would have called a closer game.”
Power went on to commend his daughter’s gritty performance.
“Erin’s our leader. [Her injury] threw us off our rhythm a little bit. I give her credit, it’s her senior year and she looked at this as an end-all game when it wasn’t. “That was the most physical basketball game I’ve seen in many years,” Power added. “Bolingbrook is a top team. If we see them again, it will be in the state title game, so we’re looking forward to that.”
A reflective Erin Power, cotton in her nose and blurred vision in one eye, put proper perspective on a valiant and courageous performance-“They deserve the number one ranking but that’s not what matters, downstate is what matters.”
On Monday, the Friars bounced back to defeat South Bend, Ind. 62-52.
Fenwick hosts Hope on Thursday (7 p.m.), and Bishop McNamara on Saturday (2:30 p.m.).