Maddie Fitzpatrick is a study in motion as she tries to free herself for an open jump shot.
A junior guard at St. Viator, Fitzpatrick epitomizes an unselfish and avid desire to get better every game. She is in her first year on the varsity team and is one of 11 juniors on the roster.
Defense was her calling card, but her offensive game is following suit. She has good shooting form and an excellent release.
“I have been working a lot on my shooting, and my shot has definitely improved,” she said.
Fitzpatrick provided energy and shooting off the bench in scoring five points and recording three rebounds, a steal and an assist in the Lions’ 51-39 loss to Carmel on Jan. 18 in Arlington Heights.
The two centerpieces of the team, junior guards Olivia Solimene and Myia Clark, keyed the Lions’ comeback from an 18-point deficit in the third quarter. Solimene drilled two 3-pointers and scored all eight of the Lions’ third-quarter points. She finished with 11.
Clark overcame a slow start by scoring 13 of her game-high 14 points in the fourth quarter. The Lions twice pulled within eight points. The team’s slow start, with just 14 first half points, negated the more impressive finish. Though the Lions’ ball movement was good, St. Viator (11-12 as of Tuesday) made only 5 of 32 shots in the paint.
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“We dug ourselves a hole, and we did not shoot well around the basket,” coach Jason Raymond said. “You work hard to get a good look, and then we don’t take advantage of the opportunity. Everything gets magnified at the defensive end.”
Fitzpatrick is one of the players the Lions are leaning on to take some of the scoring pressure off Solimene and Clark.
So far, on a team with great potential but few definite scoring options, finding additional offense has sometimes been troublesome.
“We have strength in numbers, or by committee,” Raymond said. “On any give night, somebody can put in double-digit scoring figures for us. We just do not know who that player is.”
Fitzpatrick, who lives in Barrington, is getting more accustomed to an expanded offensive role. She hopes her strong play against Carmel is a sign of good things to come.
She played grade-school basketball with Jenna Breslin at St. Anne’s in Barrington. Breslin is a center and one of just two seniors on the team.
Having a familiar teammate has eased Fitzpatrick’s transition to varsity basketball.
“It’s nice playing with her,” Fitzpatrick said. “We lost a couple of seniors last year who were a big help. Now we have some players coming into leadership roles, like Olivia, Myia and Haley Robinson. They are stepping up and improving over the season. We are trying to come together more.”
Raymond called the team’s cohesion one of the two main points of emphasis going forward, along developing a more consistent defensive effort.
At 5-9, Breslin is the Lions’ tallest starter. The Lions are learning on the fly about helping each other on defense and the necessity of playing together. From the first game, the effort has been there.
“Even when we’re off with our shots, we work hard,” Fitzpatrick said. “Everybody on the team has the confidence to improve.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press