OAK PARK It’s been quite the journey for Lyons senior Vicki Swift.
The 5-7 guard is a four-year starter on varsity and with every game she takes a step closer to the end of her high school career.
Swift is trying to make the most of it. She poured in a game-high 24 points Friday night to help the Lions to a 70-48 road win over Oak Park-River Forest in the West Suburban Silver.
Lyons (18-5, 10-2) had let an opportunity to clinch the conference title slip away with a loss to Hinsdale Central earlier in the week, so the Lions were hoping to claim at least share of the conference title with a win over OPRF (10-17, 3-9).
The Lions wound up owning the championship all by themselves when Proviso West stunned Hinsdale Central 53-46.
“We’ve talked about it since the beginning of our season — a conference championship and a regional championship,” Swift said. “Losing to [Hinsdale Central] was rough. There are no words to say how much it stunk, but it shows the leadership on our team, the seniors coming together and shaking that loss off. It’s been a special season and we weren’t going to let that loss ruin it.”
Swift scored 10 points in the first quarter as the Lions held a 20-13 lead. The Huskies pulled within 21-20 in the second but Lyons finished strong for a 34-24 halftime lead.
The Lions dominated the early part of the third quarter, outscoring OPRF 9-2, and led by at least 11 points the rest of the way.
“The lesson for the girls is you have to finish strong,” Lyons head coach Paul Krick said. “You have to earn it and I’m proud of the girls because they answered the call. We’ve had three situations this season where we’ve hit a bump in the road and they’ve answered the call each of the three times.”
Swift’s impact during her four years at Lyons has continued through this season. Krick sees how important she’s been.
“The last two years she’s meant everything to the program,” the second-year coach said. “She’s an extremely hard worker, a competitive person and is a great model for the kids to see what it takes to be successful. She loves the game and is more understanding and aware of her role and impact on the team.”
Lyons senior Gaby Galassini, who scored 19 points and was 9 of 10 from the line, has witnessed the past three years how the team follows the lead of Swift, who plans to play at the D-III level after graduation..
“Each year you see a big improvement with Vicki,” Galassini said. “One thing that rubbed off on me was her work ethic. She works the hardest every day in practice and every game and that makes me want to try and work just as hard as she does. She’s been pretty much the key to our success. If Vicki has a good night, we have a good night.”
Oak Park-River Forest senior Victoria Waters was inserted into the lineup for senior night and scored a team-high 12 points, including 11 in the first half.
Rob Valentin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press