Olivia Schaps was the hero this week.
The Niles North girls basketball team trailed Hoffman Estates by 16 points in the first half on Wednesday, Jan. 13. The Vikings stormed back, but they were down by one as they inbounded the ball with less than one second remaining.
The ball was passed to Schaps. She caught it at close range, jumped and shot it all in one motion to beat the buzzer.
Schaps’ game-winning basket was emblematic of the larger role she has taken on for Niles North during her senior season: If it’s late in the game, the ball will likely be in her hands.
“For me, it’s kind of like, ‘I’m going to create the play,’ ” Schaps said of her late-game approach. “If it’s there, then I’m going to shoot it, but I trust my teammates to shoot it — and make the shot. I just want to be able to make the play for people on our team so we can win the game.”
Schaps made several huge plays in the fourth quarter of Niles North’s 53-51 Central Suburban North victory over Glenbrook North on Friday, Jan. 15, in Northbrook.
The Vikings (13-8, 3-2) trailed by six points entering the fourth, but Schaps buried a 3-pointer near the start of the quarter. She then set up Carolyn Dwyer’s open 3-pointer in the corner, which the senior guard knocked down to tie the game.
Schaps followed Dwyer’s 3 with two straight baskets before senior Stephanie Donado — whose eight points in the third quarter were crucial in keeping the Vikings close — attacked the rim for two points.
Glenbrook North (5-14, 2-3) hung tough, however, and had two chances to tie in the final 10 seconds. Those opportunities came after Schaps missed two free throws — the front end of a one-and-one, and then she went 1-for-2 during her text trip to the line — and committed a turnover.
Senior Ilana Malman received the ball on the possession after Schaps’ turnover. Schaps, who scored 18 points, defended her. As Malman drove right, Schaps said she felt as if she had to make a defensive play to preserve the game.
“I definitely wanted to redeem myself after my free throws,” Schaps said.
Schaps did. She shuffled her feet to stay in front of Malman, then used her length to block Malman’s one-handed runner out of bounds. Glenbrook North couldn’t convert its second opportunity to tie the game, as senior Miranda Weber’s shot was off target.
“She’s very tall for a point guard, which is hard [to play against],” Malman said of Schaps. “And she’s super fast. She’s a very good player.”
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That’s been especially true this year, thanks in large part to Schaps’ work in the offseason.
Schaps, a four-year varsity player, came in about 60-90 minutes before Niles North’s summer practices to work with Vikings coach Dan Paxson. The focus of those sessions was largely on point guard skills, like ball-handling, finishing and using ball screens.
The extra time Schaps spent working on her game was evident in summer games, Paxson added. It’s now carried over to her senior season, including in fourth quarters when her team needs her the most.
“The growth that she’s had [from] the end of her junior year to now, it might be a bigger growth spurt — in terms of her skills, and her mentality — than anyone I’ve ever coached,” Paxson said. “She’s just playing with a lot of confidence. She put a ton of work in this summer. I think she’s built a lot of confidence from the summer, and she’s been playing well for us all year.”
Game notes
* Donado finished with 13 points for Niles North. Dwyer added nine. Senior center Kiana Weston finished with three points and eight rebounds.
* Weber, a forward, led Glenbrook North with 12 points. Sophomore guard Jordan Davison finished with 11 points and four rebounds. Malman also scored 11 points. Sophomore center Samm Carsello scored six points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
Eric Van Dril is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter: @VanDrilSports