The halftime buzzer sounded Dec. 10 during the Barrington girls basketball team’s game against Wheaton North. An instant later, Fillies sophomore forward Laura Mahlum grabbed her gym bag, said a quick goodbye to her teammates and coaches, and off she went.
Mahlum was hustling to make it to a Barrington school concert. Mahlum plays alto saxophone in the school band, but she still had the Fillies’ outcome in mind at the concert.
“I had my phone on the music stand and was refreshing my Twitter page,” Mahlum said. “I was just praying we could pull it all together at the end.”
Barrington indeed defeated Wheaton North 43-38. Mahlum plays with the school band at halftime of football games and during boys basketball games.
“It was our annual winter concert,” Mahlum said. “Coach (Babbi Barreiro) is very lenient on sharing my time.”
On the basketball court, it’s all about tenacious, physical play for Mahlum.
“She gives you everything she has from start to finish,” Barreiro said. “She’s a tough, gritty kid. She pulls some of the others along with that grittiness.”
At 5-foot-11, Mahlum has been guarding opposing centers who are well over 6-foot. But she’s fine with that tall task.
“I’m usually matched up with a bigger girl, but I like the challenge,” said Mahlum, who has been in the starting lineup since the second half of her freshman season. “I’ve always loved the physical aspect of the game.”
Barreiro said Mahlum was one of the keys to the team’s nine-game winning streak, which stretched into the Dundee-Crown Charger-Komaromy Christmas Classic. Barrington and Trinity were tied at 45 late in an opening-round game, and the Blazers drew up an inbounds play with eight seconds remaining. But Mahlum stepped in front of a Trinity player and drew an offensive foul on the play to give the Fillies the ball.
Freshman Sophia Swanson was then fouled with three seconds on the clock and promptly made both free throws for a 47-45 lead. Trinity had one final chance, but Mahlum intercepted the long inbounds pass.
“Laura is a great player,” Swanson said. “She’s always aggressive and goes after the ball. Her intensity picks up the whole team, so we can all play together.”
More Top Picks Best Wedge Pillows For Side Sleepers
Mahlum finished with 17 points on 7-for-13 shooting against Trinity. She also had a team-high eight rebounds.
“Laura had a very nice game offensively and defensively,” Barreiro said. “Trinity played tough defense, and she still had 17. She’s been getting better and better every game.”
Swanson contributed 13 points and three steals for the Fillies.
Barrington’s winning streak was snapped the next night, as the Fillies lost to defending Class 4A state champion Maine West, 68-46. The Fillies started strong and trailed the Warriors by only three points after the first quarter. But Maine West pulled away in the second half.
Senior Taylor Thompson led the Fillies with 15 points to go along with seven rebounds. Swanson added 13 points with four assists, while Mahlum scored seven points and had five rebounds.
Barrington (10-5 as of Saturday) wasted no time in starting a new winning streak. The Fillies defeated New Trier 59-52 to begin their run through the consolation bracket at Dundee-Crown.
Mark Perlman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press