New Trier's Conference Woes Continue with Loss to Glenbrook South

The Trevians girls basketball team is quickly learning how hard it is to win in the CSL South.

After tough losses to Niles West and Maine South, New Trier fell for the third time in a week to a conference foe, losing 53-42 at home to Glenbrook South.

The Titans hounded New Trier (5-4, 0-3 CSL South) with a pressure man-to-man defense and took advantage of their size inside on the offensive end to beat the Trevians on Thursday night.

"They always play great defense," New Trier coach Teri Rodgers said. "You always know when you play them it's going to be tough to get open shots."

New Trier started the game playing zone defense, trying to neutralize Glenbrook South's taller post players. Steady ball movement and patience by the Titan offense got forwards Abby Keller and Kelly Minx shots inside, but they were unable to convert a number of easy opportunities.

New Trier led by two at the end of the first quarter, but their lead did not last long. Following a layup by Glenbrook South guard Sara Meinecke, forward Molly McDonagh had two straight offensive rebounds and uncontested put-backs to give Glenbrook South a 13-11 lead.

"We had seven [offensive rebounds given up] in the first half and a number in the second half," Rodgers said. "You're not going to win too many games when you allow that many offensive rebounds."

Glenbrook South's defense held Lyon to three points in the first half, but only led by four at halftime, 20-16. A balanced scoring attack and a stingy zone defense kept New Trier in the game.  

"It was kind of frustrating because I thought we had really played well and I looked up at the scoreboard and we were up four points," Glenbrook South coach Steve Weissenstein said.

The back-and-forth struggle continued in the third quarter with neither team pulling away. Glenbrook South extended the lead to eight points midway through the third quarter, but Lyon started to look for her shot.

New Trier's junior guard nailed a pull-up three-pointer and scored seven points in the final three minutes to bring the Trevians within four heading to the fourth quarter. Her three-pointer with 2:39 to go in the third quarter was her first field goal of the game.

"Obviously, Lyon's such a great player she's going to get her points," Weissenstein said. "But I thought when she passed the ball we had girls in great position.''

Down the stretch Glenbrook South's size and rebounding advantage proved too much for New Trier. The Trevians would get no closer than four points and their second-half pressure defense couldn't mitigate Glenbrook South's ball-control offense.

Lyon finished the game with 21 points, 11 of which came in the fourth quarter. Minx led Glenbrook South with 19 points while Keller contributed 12 points.

New Trier hosts Barrington on Saturday afternoon.

"In this conference there are just no days off and every day is going to be a tough game," Weissenstein said. "We've been kind of fortunate because we've been in a lot of close games this year…our girls are confident at the end of the game."