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The IHSA girls basketball seedings were revealed last week with Sandburg receiving the No. 5 seed in the Class 4A Rich Sectional.
The news dropped hours before a crucial matchup against Lincoln-Way West. It did not not sit well with the Eagles, especially with the Warriors getting the third seed.
“We wanted to win this game to prove we should not be a five seed,” Sandburg’s Zoe Trunk said after a 57-46 road win over the Warriors on Feb. 6. “We were really amped up and we were ready for the game.”
Not only did Sandburg seek revenge from a home loss to Lincoln-Way West on Dec. 12, the Eagles now wanted to prove they should have been a higher seed.
“We were hoping for a top-four seed,” Sandburg coach Nick Fotopoulos said. “I knew they (were) coming to this (game) focused. We wanted this one and we were all focused on getting that (win).”
Sandburg had a big second half from Trunk, who scored 23 of her 31 points in the final two quarters.
The senior guard shot 10-for-13 from the field, 5-for-7 from 3-point range and 6-for-8 from the free-throw line. She also had eight rebounds, four assists and five steals.
“It was a dominant performance,” Fotopolous said. “That’s what Zoe Trunk can do and she did it tonight.”
Trunk shared the credit for her big night.
“It’s the teammates,” she said. “When we are doing our job on defense, it is going to come into offense. Now I am feeling good and there’s no care in the world.”
Also contributing was senior forward Abby Janociak, who finished with six points, five rebounds, a steal and a block in the win.
“Abby was awesome off the bench,” Fotopolous said. “When we were in foul trouble, she came in and took control of the middle for us and hit some big free throws.”
“It really helps because when you’re not having the best game, another person will have your back,” Trunk said.
Junior guard Ellie Driscoll added 10 points for the Eagles against Lincoln-Way West.
The Eagles (23-7, 11-4 SouthWest Suburban) finished the weekend with a 54-41 win over Oak Lawn to extend their win streak to seven games. They moved to 19-2 since a three-game losing streak in December.
Monique Nwkogu scored 15 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds against Oak Lawn.
“They are resilient,” Fotopolous said. “We have been in a lot of close games and this team knows how to close them out. They know how to compete, get after teams, and stay even-keeled.”
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