Caitlin Teehan is a blur in the open floor.
She is also a quick learner. Her speed and awareness have given Carmel a jolt despite having a depleted backcourt due to a string of illnesses and injuries, coach Kelly Perz said.
A 5-foot-4 guard who also plays on the wing, Teehan was ready when Perz told her she was being called up to varsity for the Corsairs’ game at Libertyville on Jan. 14.
“I was pretty excited when she told me,” Teehan said. “I felt like my game had really excelled, and I had this great opportunity.”
Teehan showcased her explosive open-court abilities and disruptive defensive instincts by scoring nine points and adding seven rebounds, five steals and four assists in the Corsairs’ 51-39 victory against St. Viator in East Suburban Catholic play Wednesday in Arlington Heights.
“I have not seen anything like this,” Perz said. “We brought her up out of necessity. She is dominant at the junior varsity level. She came in the first game against Libertyville and had like six steals. She is so quick.”
A Mundelein native, Teehan opened and closed the first quarter with athletic drives she finished at the rim as the Corsairs got out to a 14-5 lead. Her quick hands and defensive range also stymied the Lions.
“My game has gotten even better from being on the varsity,” Teehan said. “My teammates have helped me a lot, showing me where to stand and where to be on the floor. I just like to run the play, read the defense and react to what they are doing.”
Freshman guard Katie Lach also continued to impress. She scored 10 of her team-high 12 points in the first half. Teehan’s drive-and-kick mentality twice set up Lach for key 3-pointers. Lach punctuated the dominant first half with a 3-pointer from the wing for a 27-14 lead at the break.
Teehan’s steal and coast-to-coast drive gave the Corsairs (13-9, 2-2 ESCC) their largest lead, 33-15, in the third quarter.
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Senior forward Daija Pruitt overcame early foul trouble to record eight points and nine rebounds.
Two other sophomores, part of the Corsairs’ young core, also made a valuable impact. Forward Brigit Barr had six points and five rebounds, and athletic point guard Shai Horton added seven points and three assists. She ended the third quarter with a tough offensive putback and opened the fourth quarter by scoring a baseline pull-up jumper.
“We just come out and play,” Horton said. “We don’t think about age. The freshmen are very mature, and the juniors and seniors are encouraging and great mentors.”
Horton, of North Chicago, had a breakout game against Class 4A power Zion-Benton on Jan. 3 that Perz said justified her increased playing time.
Even during a previous stint at JV, she never lost faith in her abilities.
“I definitely had to work hard,” Horton said. “My teammates are working hard, and I felt like I had to as well. When the starters are hustling our on the court and then we have the bench come in and play the same aggressive style, it’s good for everybody.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press