Interim Trinity coach Mike Valente won his first three games while filling in for Eddie Stritzel.
That run came to an end with Batavia’s upset of the Blazers, 54-50, in the Trinity Thanksgiving Tournament on Friday, Nov. 27.
Saint Louis-bound center Hannah Frazier led Batavia (3-1) with 33 points and 10 rebounds.
Trinity (3-1) was set to play Proviso East (4-0) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, in the final game of the tournament. Valente then will return the clipboard to head coach Stritzel, whose school-imposed one-month suspension for recruiting violations ends Nov. 30.
Stritzel, who was not permitted to have contact with the team, is eligible to return when Trinity hosts Montini in its GCAC Red opener at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 1. Valente will resume his role as an assistant coach.
“I love being with this team,” Valente said. “I love being with this program and helping with the girls. I’ll do anything to help us get to the next level.”
Senior guard Annie McKenna, the leading scorer from last year’s Class 4A supersectional team, missed her first six shots and scored all nine of her points during a desperate rally in the fourth quarter.
Senior forward Kaitlin Aylward, who had scored at least 15 points in each of the previous three games, finished with a team-high 10 points with eight rebounds.
Aylward and McKenna, Trinity’s only seniors said they saw no difference in coaching styles with Valente in command. Valente appears just as emotional as Stritzel on the sideline while barking out directions and providing support.
“The atmosphere has not changed,” McKenna said. “Everyone is doing their job. It’s been the same. There has been no change.”
The Bulldogs led 51-40 with 2:12 remaining when Trinity scored 10 consecutive points, including McKenna’s 3-pointer. Frazier sealed the win with three free throws in the final 13.2 seconds.
“Obviously we did not do our best,” Aylward said. “We’ve only played a couple of games. We are still not where we went to be.”
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