The Fenwick High School girls basketball team notched a 69-53 win over Johnsburg at the Chicago Showcase, hosted by Benet Academy on Saturday.
The Friars used a familiar formula to win as top senior scorers McKenzie Blaze (17 points, 7 rebounds) and Kate Moore (16 points) led the way.
Junior Gianni Ortiz (6 points, 5 assists) and sophomores Lily Reardon (5 points) and Kate Schneider (5 points, 5 rebounds) offered support.
On Tuesday, Jan. 2, Fenwick took on host Ensworth in Nashville, Tennessee. Ensworth, a defending state champion, escaped with a 55-50 victory. Moore led the Friars with a game-high 22 points (including six 3-pointers) and Blaze had 18 points and nine rebounds. Ortiz dished out six assists.
The Friars closed out 2017 by participating in the 35th Annual Komaromy Classic hosted by Dundee-Crown. Fenwick went 2-2 to finish in sixth place out of 16 teams at Dundee-Crown.
The team’s signature win came against New Trier. Trailing the Trevians 43-35 entering the fourth quarter, the Friars forced overtime with a 52-all score at the end of regulation, then maintained the momentum to pull out an inspired 68-66 win in double-overtime. Blaze had 19 points and eight boards, while Moore scored 16. Maggie Van Ermen chipped in 14 points. Reardon (7 points) and Schneider (5 points) contributed for the victors.
The Friars also defeated Prospect 63-45 in the first round as Blaze tallied 18 points with support from Schneider (13 points) and Moore (12 points).
Fenwick lost 63-40 against tourney champion Maine West. Moore scored 11 points, while Blaze and Ortiz contributed six points apiece.
In the fifth-place game, Maine South dealt the Friars a 64-52 loss on the last day of the tournament. Blaze scored 18 points and Sheila Hogan finished with 12 points on four 3-pointers. Moore also scored 12 and freshman Lauren Hall had six points.
Blaze and Van Ermen were named to the Dundee-Crown All-Tournament Team.
Over Christmas break, Fenwick finished runner-up at the Marian Catholic Christmas Tournament. The Friars reeled off four impressive wins before falling to perennial state power Montini 58-38 in the championship game.
Fenwick boys basketball
DJ Steward and Damari Nixon scored 14 points apiece to power the Friars past host De La Salle 58-45 Saturday in Chicago. AJ Nixon had nine points, six rebounds and five assists and Billy Bruce finished with seven points and seven rebounds.
The Friars raced out to a 33-12 lead at halftime with tremendous defense. Fenwick held the Meteors to two points in the second quarter.
During Christmas break, Fenwick went 3-1 at the Proviso West Holiday Tournament en route to a fifth-place showing. The Friars’ lone loss, 45-42, came against reigning Class 2A state champion Orr which went on to win the Proviso West tourney. The Spartans rolled past Whitney Young 77-62 in the championship game.
Fenwick (12-4, 5-0 Chicago Catholic League), which has won eight of nine games, hosts St. Joseph on Friday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. The Friars also welcome Simeon, Monday, Jan. 15 in a highly anticipated nonconference matchup. Tip-off is 4 p.m.
