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player ready...One thing is certain regarding Barrington senior center Megan Talbot: The 6-foot-2 post player can rebound.
But the long-armed Talbot is also starting to score consistently, averaging 13 points in her fourth year starting at Barrington. On Friday, Jan. 15, Talbot scored eight of her 15 points in the fourth quarter as visiting Barrington (7-10, 3-2 Mid-Suburban West) defeated rival Palatine 53-44. With Barrington leading only 45-43 with just over a minute to go, Talbot converted a three-point play. She used a strong spin move to reach the basket for a left-handed layup.
“I’ve been working on the move a lot in practice,” Talbot said. “I’ve never really been able to pull it off in a game.”
“She’s a very, very talented basketball player. She’s very capable on both ends of the floor,” Barrington coach Babbi Barreiro said. Offensively, she knows how to put the ball in the basket. And rebounding, she’s one of the best we’ve had, ever.”
Talbot finished with nine rebounds and three steals, while senior guard Kelly Katis led the way offensively with 20 points.
Talbot struggled to score and rebound for most of the game, totaling seven points and four rebounds heading into the final quarter. Then she took over.
“I kept telling Megan in the fourth that I was going to pass her the ball. That’s what we do,” said Katis, Talbot’s teammate since fifth grade. “She started picking it up in the fourth. She was all over the place with defense and steals.”
“I use to be more of a defensive player and rebounding. Rebounding comes real natural to me,” Talbot said. “In the past couple of years I’ve taken more of a scoring role on the team.”
But grabbing missed shots is still the trademark of her game. She averages nine rebounds.
“It’s the way she positions herself. She has a good nose for the ball. Where it’s coming off the rim,” Barreiro said. “Once it’s up in the air, she rips it away.”
Talbot’s offensive game continues to grow, with Barreiro stressing that the team relies on her more this year.
“When people scout Barrington, they know they have got to stop Megan Talbot,” Barreiro said. “That’s a confidence builder, but it’s also a lot of pressure, too.”
“My teammates work so hard on both ends of the court to help me,” Talbot said.
Late in the second quarter against Palatine, Talbot spotted up from the three-point line and nailed the shot.
“If it’s there, I’ll shoot it,” Talbot said.
“If it were up to her, I think she’d love to take three-point shots all the time,” Barreiro said. “Sometimes, when she’s missing shots [inside], she likes to get out and take a three and get one under her belt. She’s a very nice three-point shooter, but for us we’d like to get her around the basket.”
Mark Perlman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter: @markdavidperlma