It didn’t take long for New Trier’s Autumn Kalis to make an imprint on the championship game at Dundee-Crown’s holiday girls basketball tournament.
The senior point guard scored the team’s first points — a 3-pointer from the baseline — had an assist on a fastbreak and hustled back on defense to force a turnover on a fastbreak in the first quarter.
In the Trevians’ 58-42 win over Stevenson on Wednesday, Dec. 30, Kalis finished with a season-best 20 points to go with four assists and one steal. Kalis said it was the best game of her varsity career. She went 7-for-9 from the field and 2-for-2 on free throws.
As a junior, she was a part-time starter on New Trier’s team that finished third in Class 4A. In the 57-28 loss to Fremd in the state semifinals, she came off the bench and played 17 minutes. She played nine minutes off the bench in the team’s 43-41 win over Homewood-Flossmoor in the third-place game.
“It’s fun to do this as a senior,” Kalis said. “I feel like I am more of a contributor this year.”
With senior point guard Haley Greer out with a back injury for the four games in Carpentersville, Kalis elevated her game. Kalis, who was a starter prior to Greer’s injury, averaged 10 points a game and had a team-best 14 total assists at the tournament. She was one of three Trevians selected to the all-tournament team. Senior forward Jeannie Boehm and senior guard Kathryn Pedi were the others.
“Huge, huge tournament,” New Trier coach Teri Rodgers said of Kalis. “When Haley came out, someone had to step up. She really took that challenge to heart. She kept us in control and attacked.”
Kalis said she figured the team would depend on her more with the Colgate-bound Greer on the bench. Greer’s return is unclear, according to Rodgers.
“It was time for me to step up,” Kalis said. “It was a switch for me mentally.”
More Top Picks Black Decker Portable Air Conditioner Review
One of Kalis’ highlights in the final was a halfcourt pass over the top of the defense to a wide open Shayle Arenson. The senior guard went in for a layup to cap a 7-0 run that increased the Trevians’ lead to 33-22 with 5 minutes, 27 seconds left in the third quarter.
“The best thing about her is her decision-making,” Pedi said. “She’s always trying to make the right play, the right pass. You could see that in this tournament. I’m not surprised by how she’s playing right now.”
Twitter: @harnesspreps