By Andrew Lovdahl
Gargoyle staff reporter
Posted Friday, Nov. 17, 2006, The OG, sports

URBANA — The girls varsity basketball team started its season on a high note, defeating the Atwood-Hammond Fighting Rajenes 37-35 at Kenney Gym Thursday night. Sophomore Rachel Skoza led the team in points and rebounds, with 14 of each. The Illineks held a 10-point lead on two occasions and were never behind in points.

Although the team was playing without sophomore Jessi Sullivan, the team proved that it has depth. The starters (Skoza, juniors Aran Yoo, Samantha Nguyen, and Sarah Pfander, and senior Mandy Grill) all played well, and five substitutes saw time on the court, most notably junior Ruthie Welch, who played in every quarter.

With an enthusiastic crowd behind them, the team jumped out to an early 10-0 lead, and at the end of the first quarter the Illineks led 12-4. The Rajenes played better in the second quarter, but Uni maintained a 21-12 lead going into halftime. The visitors scored the first three points of the third quarter, but Nguyen's four-point play gave Uni the momentum back. Nguyen finished with nine points, including two three-pointers.

The final quarter was tense and dramatic. With six and a half minutes to play, Uni's lead was down to four. Grill brought the lead up to six, but Atwood-Hammond scored six in a row to tie the game with less than three minutes on the clock.

Play became more aggressive and intense, and near the 50-second mark, Skoza was fouled. The crowd was almost silent while Skoza sunk two free throws to put Uni on top 37-35. The remainder of the game was scoreless; head coach Rebecca Murphy observed that Uni's defensive strategy in the final minute was very effective in disorienting the visitors. The Rajenes had the ball in the final seconds, but they were unable to get off a shot before the buzzer.

Ultimately, Uni was more aggressive and coordinated than its visitors. The Illineks committed seven more fouls than the Rajenes (although no player fouled out), and whenever their opponents started gaining momentum, the team was able to regain control. Murphy noted that although the final quarter presented a very stressful situation, the players were able to stay calm and get the victory.

Uni's confidence was undoubtedly boosted by the large fan turnout. Skoza's blocks and Yoo's six steals were met by raucous cheers; the crowd gave Nguyen a loud ovation when she left the court in the fourth quarter after suffering an apparent knee injury. When the Rajenes put up a shot during the scoring deadlock in the final minutes, the fans collectively gasped and then sighed in relief when the ball tumbled back down.

The departure of key seniors is a major concern for almost any high school team, but if Uni was hurt by the loss of three top players from last season — Al Johnson, Julie Chen, Nuole Chen — it didn't show. This year's varsity team has more sophomores than it does seniors, so the future of Uni girls basketball is promising to say the least.

On Saturday the Illineks will begin playing in the almost weeklong Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic tournament. The girls will play two games Saturday, both at Oakwood High School. They will face Hoopeston at 4:30 p.m., followed by Chrisman at 7:30. The rest of the Illineks' tournament schedule:

— 6 p.m. Monday: Uni vs. Blue Ridge, at Oakwood H.S.
— 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.

VARSITY RECORD: 1-0
(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: see above