By Avanti Chajed & Andrew Lovdahl
Gargoyle staff reporters
Posted Sunday, Nov. 19, 2006, The OG, sports

OAKWOOD — The Uni girls varsity basketball team began Thanksgiving tournament action Saturday by easily defeating Hoopeston 45-23. But later that night the Illineks lost a heartbreaker in the final seconds to Chrisman, falling 50-48 after taking the lead with less than a minute to play. Uni is now 2-1 on the season.

The games were part of the 10-team Oakwood/Westville Lady Comet/Lady Tiger Thanksgiving Classic. The tournament will continue this week, concluding on Friday.

The Illineks played consistently well throughout their victory against the Cornjerkers, although they were nervous about their first away game. That showed a bit in the first quarter, which ended with the teams tied at 10. Uni began pulling away in the second quarter, entering halftime with a 21-14 lead.

“I think people just got their mind set,” said senior Mandy Grill.

The Illineks dominated the second half, outscoring Hoopeston 24-9.

Junior Ruthie Welch led Uni with 13 points. Junior Sarah Pfander had 10 and sophomores Rachel Skoza and Jessi Sullivan (making her season debut) contributed 8 apiece.

Guards Aran Yoo and Samantha Nguyen did not play. Yoo, a cellist, missed the Hoopeston game because she was performing in the Illinois Music Educators Association's District III festival; she arrived in time to play in the Chrisman game. Nguyen missed both contests due to an injury she suffered in the Illineks' season-opening win Thursday against Atwood-Hammond.

During the second game, Uni fell behind Chrisman by 6 in the first quarter. The Illineks settled down and matched Chrisman point for point in the second and third quarters. By late in the final quarter, Uni was poised to come away with a victory.

“We pulled ahead with a free throw by Mandy with less than a minute left to play,” Pfander said. “Then, they got fouled and tied it up on the other end.”

As the Illineks tried to position themselves for a final game-winning shot, an out-of-bounds call gave possession back to the Lady Cardinals, who scored with only a few seconds left.

“There was nothing we could really do at that point,” Pfander said.

“That was really tough,” said Grill.

Skoza and Sullivan led the Illineks with 15 points each, while Yoo scored 13.

Last year in the same tournament, Uni went 1-3, beating Chrisman and losing to Hoopeston, Oakwood, and Georgetown-Ridge Farm.

This year's tournament continues 6 p.m. Monday when Uni goes up against Blue Ridge at Oakwood High School.

The rest of Uni's tournament schedule:

— 7:30 p.m. Tuesday: Uni vs. Oakwood, at Oakwood H.S.
— Friday: Uni vs. opponent to be determined, time to be announced, at Westville H.S.

For directions to Oakwood H.S., click here. For directions to Westville H.S., click here.

VARSITY RECORD: 2-1
(Home games in bold)

Season Preview: Illineks ready for season opener tonight

Nov. 16: Atwood-Hammond, W 37-35
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 14 pts
— story: Illineks triumph in season opener

Nov. 18: Hoopeston (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), W 45-23
— leading scorer: Ruthie Welch, 13 pts
— story: see above

Nov. 18: Chrisman (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), L 50-48

— leading scorers: Rachel Skoza & Jessi Sullivan, 15 pts each
— story: see above