Lake Forest junior forward Lilly Trkla is not a high-volume shooter.
In fact, Trkla did not attempt a shot in three games this season, including in back-to-back games against Hersey and Glenbrook South over a three-day period from Jan. 18 to 21.
Trkla acknowledged it’s been a process to become acclimated to her growing role alongside Wisconsin recruit Halle Douglass.
“I didn’t really shoot that much until recently,” Trkla said. “But Halle’s super-beneficial to all of us in helping us get shots open because she draws so much attention from the other team. It becomes so much easier for us to get open. All of us know we have to be ready to shoot.”
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Trkla scored all six of her points in the second half of Lake Forest’s 37-34 loss to Loyola in Wilmette on Thursday.
Douglass, who missed Tuesday’s game at Mundelein with a sprained wrist, endured numerous double- and triple-teams but finished with 10 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. Freshman guard Rachel Kaus scored 10 points, and junior forward Finola Summerville added nine points.
Trkla helped the Scouts (19-8) mount a comeback against the Ramblers (18-9) by scoring on back-to-back possessions late in the third quarter. She buried a baseline 15-footer and blocked a shot in the opening minutes of the fourth.
“I stepped up, but that’s because my team was looking for me, so it felt great,” Trkla said. “But we didn’t win the game.”
Lake Forest coach Kyle Wilhelm was disappointed in his team losing for the fifth time in the past seven games but was encouraged by the play of Trkla and Kaus. The Scouts have a key North Suburban Conference game at surging Lake Zurich on Saturday.
“(Lilly) played well for us,” he said. “We’ve been trying to get her all year to step in and take more shots. She has a great midrange game. So now that she’s starting to look for her shot more, we need a couple of more shooters out there to spread the floor and open things up more. When players start hitting those, we will have to be guarded differently.
“Plus, Rachel’s last couple of games have been really good. She had a great game against Mundelein when Halle didn’t play. … She’s really becoming a much more confident player.”
What a pain: Douglass had an opportunity to tie the game at the buzzer, but officials did not call a foul on her contested 3-point attempt.
Douglass labored through discomfort in her wrist against the Ramblers and made just three field goals while shooting 3-for-8 from the free-throw line. She entered the game shooting 76% (115-for-151) from the line.
Fisher back in action: Lake Forest junior guard Molly Fisher returned Thursday for the first time since injuring her left shoulder late in the second quarter of a 55-37 loss to Evanston in the Montini Christmas Tournament final on Dec. 30.
The 5-foot-5 Fisher finished with three points against Loyola, swishing a corner 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 31-29 with 2:41 left. But Fisher’s worth can’t be measured solely in points, as her perimeter shooting creates more spacing on offense for Douglass to drive.
“It felt great to be back on the court,” Fisher said. “It was a little scary but overall great.”
Before her injury, Fisher hit one of the biggest shots of the season, drilling a 12-foot baseline jumper at the buzzer to defeat highly ranked Benet on Dec. 28.
“I just watched it today,” Fisher said of her game-winner. “It was the best feeling ever — just watching the video and seeing everybody’s reactions, especially our coaches, and knocking off the No. 1 team in the state.”
Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.