St. Charles North Survives Lake Zurich in Thrilling 38-37 Victory

UPDATE: In a nail-biting showdown, the St. Charles North North Stars edged out the Lake Zurich Bears with a final score of 38-37, securing their seventh consecutive victory. The game unfolded on July 25, 2023, at Lake Zurich High School during the annual Exam Jamm event, which featured a series of thrilling tripleheaders.

The North Stars, coming into the game undefeated at 6-0, faced a fierce home crowd as they took on the Bears, who were determined to bounce back from a recent 25-point loss to Chicago Marist. The match was intensely competitive, with both teams trading leads throughout. The decisive moment came with just 10 seconds left on the clock when junior Bronwyn How scored the game-winning basket after receiving a pinpoint pass from Ella Fuhr.

“It was going to have to be a shot from outside or an (inside) cut,” How said about her critical play. “I trust my teammates on (making) that pass. It’s a play we have run so many times that I saw the positioning and I was going to take it.” Her performance earned her co-player of the game honors alongside Lake Zurich’s Layne Nordstrom.

The game started with Lake Zurich taking an early lead, going up 7-0 before St. Charles North responded with a 10-3 run to end the first quarter down by just one point at 11-10. The intensity only escalated from there, as neither team could extend their lead beyond three points. Lexie Kahle of Lake Zurich hit a crucial 3-pointer, pushing the Bears ahead 37-34 with less than a minute remaining.

St. Charles North’s Sydney Johnson quickly answered back, scoring to bring the North Stars within one point at 37-36. A subsequent charging call against Lake Zurich granted St. Charles North possession, setting the stage for How’s dramatic finish.

Coach Grant Oler of St. Charles North praised his team’s composure under pressure, stating, “It was not an easy game. That team (Lake Zurich) is going to win a lot of games.” Lake Zurich coach Chris Bennett echoed his sentiments, highlighting the importance of bouncing back from their previous loss: “We just wanted to respond, and we did way better. They just executed one more play than we did.”

The Bears were led by Winona State recruit Alex Nowak-Tice, who scored 11 points, followed closely by 10 points each from Kahle and Kaitlin Wahlund. Lake Zurich’s resilience was evident, and their performance signals a promising season ahead.

As both teams move forward, the stakes continue to rise in this competitive season. Fans will be eagerly watching to see how Lake Zurich can leverage this experience in their upcoming games, while St. Charles North aims to maintain their perfect record. This match not only showcased the talent of both teams but also the heart and determination that defines high school basketball.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as the season progresses.