New Trier Girls Lose By One, Fall Short On Loyd's Layup

With a regional championship on the line, a raucous crowd on hand and a TV broadcast, Niles West and New Trier didn’t disappoint.

Jewell Loyd’s layup with 5.1 seconds left gave the host Wolves (21-8) a 46-45 win over New Trier (17-12) in the final of the Niles West Regional.

Loyd had a game-high 24 points, but it wasn’t one of her dominant performances. Loyd scored 39 against the Trevians earlier this year. With New Trier’s defense focusing on Loyd, Molly Kleppin was open and hit some shots early on. She scored the Wolves’ first seven points.

“I thought their supporting cast did a terrific job tonight,” New Trier coach Teri Rodgers said. “I thought particularly No. 11 Kleppin really won the game for them.”

Kleppin’s hot start overcame Loyd shooting 1-7 from the field in the first quarter. However, New Trier got its offense rolling and took a 20-15 lead in the second quarter.

Then Loyd and Niles West took over. The Wolves closed the half on a 10-0 run, seven scored by Loyd, and led 25-20 at halftime. In the third quarter, Niles West extended the run to 17 unanswered points, but Loyd picked up her fourth foul in the quarter and New Trier fought back.

“We pressed (when Loyd sat),” Rodgers said. “We went to more of a trapping defense. We wanted to put some pressure on their kids and I thought we did a nice job with that. Actually, even when she came back in we stayed with it and I think that was a big difference for us. It’s probably something I should have done earlier in the game.”

Trevians’ senior Abbey Schmitt (16 points) had 12 second half points and led the charge to get her team back in the game. By the end of the third they were within six at 34-28.

With 1:37 to go in the game junior Maggie Lyon (9 points) got a steal and fed Schmitt for a layup that was Schmitt’s second three-point play in a row and gave New Trier its first lead of the half at 43-42. Schmitt, who will play at Dartmouth next year, returned to action just a couple weeks ago after tearing the ACL in her right knee.

“I was happy to contribute whatever I could to try to get my team past this game, but I felt pretty good about how I played relatively,” Schmitt said.

After that Niles West missed the front end of two one-and-ones, but New Trier turned the ball over twice and Niles West split four free throws.

With her team trailing 44-43 with 17.1 left Brigit Ieuter (5 points) drew a foul. Despite the Niles West student section creating tons of noise, Ieuter calmly swished two clutch free throws.

Unfortunately for New Trier, Loyd would not be denied. The star junior took the inbound pass and did her best Derrick Rose impersonation, weaving through traffic to get the winning layup and erupt the home crowd. New Trier didn’t get a shot off to answer.

“We were right there,” Rodgers said of Loyd’s winning layup. “The kids were on her. She just made a great basket. Not a whole lot you can do.

“Particularly in an atmosphere like this, I was really, really proud of the kids. It’s hard to come back in a game like this in a crowd like this and a player like that.”

Lyon, New Trier’s leading scorer, struggled from the floor but had 10 rebounds.

“Maggie, she was just off,” Rodgers said. “She didn’t force anything. Sometimes a player of her caliber, when she’s frustrated the kids will force things. All of her shots were terrific shots. They just didn’t fall. That happens sometimes.”

For Schmitt, coming back from injury in time to contribute during her senior year is an accomplishment by itself. She wasn’t playing at 100 percent, but said she felt best of all the games since her return.

“I felt the most confident especially when I took that left handed layup on my right leg,” Schmitt said. “I was glad that I was able to play some games. I just love playing with New Trier. I’m sad that the season is over, but I’m glad I was able to play for a little bit.”

The game, which was featured as CN 100's Game of the Week, will be replayed on the cable channel throughout the week.