There aren’t many teams in the area with a resume as complete as Downers Grove North.
They have wins over Lyons, Glenbard West, Maine South and Libertyville. At 22-2, the Trojans are enjoying one of the best seasons in school history. What has stood out is how the team is winning in different ways.
Against Libertyville last week, junior Campbell Thulin (17 points and 13 rebounds) and freshman Eva Yerkovich (14 points) were huge in the 50-45 win. Yerkovich is an impressive scorer who can attack the basket. She’s also a willing rebounder who recently picked up a Valparaiso offer. The team was looking forward to that test after knocking off Maine South and Glenbard West in back-to-back games.
“A lot of like energy [was] being used,” Yerkovich said. “But it was fun because we all stuck with each other.”
On Saturday against York, Northern Michigan recruit Adysen Fanta came up clutch.
York trailed the Trojans 26-24, in the fourth quarter when Fanta buried back-to-back three-pointers to give Downers Grove North breathing room in its eventual win. Against a feisty and physical York defense, it was important that the Trojans had multiple contributors step up.
“I just knew it was a big moment,” Fanta said. “The first one was probably not the shot I should have taken, but I knew I just had the confidence to take it. The second one, my teammates just trusted me enough, so I knew they got me to a good place on the floor and got me the ball.”
Downers Grove North’s trademark is its defense. Each player is in sync with one another on that end of the floor.
“We’re gonna make you earn baskets,” coach Stephan Bolt said. “When we knock down shots and share the ball, we can compete with anybody.”
As the calendar turns to February, the state tournament is nearing. With its stingy defense, Downers Grove North has a baseline skill that will keep it in most games. It’s not easy to instill a defense-first mindset on high school teams, but Bolt has done well to create buy-in amongst the group. They’re going to be a team to watch down the stretch of the season.
“I don’t know that I gave them the choice,” Bolt said. “It’s our identity, and I think that’s something that I believe in.”
Thulin, who averages 14.2 points, is the team’s engine. She plays hard on both ends of the floor and sets the tone for the group. She said the team wants to send out the seniors the right way and to continue their strong play down the stretch.
[This past week] really helped us and gave us a little sneak preview of how playoffs could be,” Thulin said. “This team has the potential to go wherever we want.”
Game to watch
Benet vs. Nazareth, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Benet hasn’t lost since its season-opening defeat against Lyons. They’ve been the best team in the area while also playing a tough schedule. Senior Emma Briggs has improved this season into an all-around force. Nazareth’s only in-state loss came against Benet back in December. The Roadrunners are led by BYU commit Stella Sakalas.
The Super 25, with record and last week’s ranking:
1. Benet (20-1) 1
Plays Nazareth Wednesday
2. Loyola Academy (23-2) 2
Plays Prospect Monday
3. Nazareth (20-3) 4
Beat Homewood-Flossmoor
4. Naperville Central (20-4) 3
Plays Naperville North Friday
5. Waubonsie Valley (22-1) 5
Beat Bolingbrook
6. Kenwood (19-6) 6
City playoffs begin this week
7. Mother McAuley (18-5) 7
Plays Marist Friday
8. Downers Grove North (22-2) 10
Beat York
9. Providence (23-3) 12
Beat DePaul Prep
10. Marist (19-6) 11
Beat Fremd
11. Fremd (18-4) 8
Plays Hersey Tuesday
12. DePaul Prep (18-4) 9
Loss to Providence
13. Carmel (18-7) 13
Plays Nazareth Saturday
14. Maine South (18-5) 16
Beat Prospect
15. Glenbard West (21-3) 14
Plays St. Charles East Tuesday
16. Glenbrook South (17-6) 18
Plays Maine South Monday
17. Libertyville (18-4) 15
Loss to Downers Grove South
18. Hersey (14-6) 19
Plays Fremd Tuesday
19. Bolingbrook (16-4) 23
Plays Plainfield South Tuesday
20. Prospect (13-9) 20
Plays Loyola Monday
21. Lyons (15-7) 17
Loss to Hinsdale Central
22. St. Charles East (13-6) 21
Loss to Mother McAuley
23. Trinity (15-8) 22
Plays Amundsen Tuesday
24. Hinsdale Central (16-8) NR
Plays Downers Grove North Friday
25. Lake Zurich (16-8) 25
Plays Libertyville Wednesday