Sophomore guard Gracen Gehrke was back at her old job Tuesday night, serving as the first player off the bench for Lincoln-Way Central.
Junior guard Azyah Newson-Cole was back for her first start since suffering a sprained right knee six games earlier.
Their mutual admiration has never been stronger than it was after the Knights defeated visiting Lincoln-Way West 65-48.
“Azyah did what she had to do tonight,” Gehrke said. “It was fun starting while she was out, but she does so much for our team.”
And she did this time as well.
More Top Picks Woks
Newson-Cole scored 20 points and contributed three key assists for Lincoln-Way Central (19-8, 7-1). Keira Hunt added 17 points, while Angelina Panos had 10.
Ava Gugliuzza led Lincoln-Way West (12-13, 4-4) with 17 points. Raylin Caballero added 10 points, while Ava Alton had 11 rebounds.
Gehrke, meanwhile, came off the bench and nailed three 3-pointers for the Knights. It was a great relief effort after a six-game stretch where she led the team in scoring as a starter.
“Yes! Gracen Gehrke!” Newson-Cole shouted with a smile. “I love her. I love her. Her being a sophomore and coming up and filling my role when I was out was amazing.
“It was an unexpected injury, and she replaced me and had some great games. I don’t know — this girl has high standards in my eyes. I’m looking forward to seeing more.”
Newson-Cole returned just in time to help the Knights secure a tie with Stagg for the SouthWest Suburban Red title.
“It felt amazing, just helping my teammates,” Newson-Cole said. “I felt great on the bench cheering them on. But being out there on the court is a much different experience.”
The sprained right knee?
“I feel great,” Newson-Cole said. “I’m still jumping, just being myself.”
Newson-Cole was scoreless in the third quarter but far from uninvolved. Three passes to three different teammates resulted in a 3-point play and two 3-pointers.
“I feel as though, being a point guard, it’s good to get your team involved,” Newson-Cole said. “I’m more of a pass-first person, so if I see you’re open and I know you’re a shooter, I’m going to pass it to you so you can knock it down.”
Newson-Cole suffered the sprain Jan. 18 during the Knights’ first game against Stagg.
Gehrke started the next game against Lincoln-Way West and scored 15 points. She followed with 19 points in a game against Bradley-Bourbonnais.
Lincoln-Way Central coach Dave Campanile couldn’t have chosen a better super sub.
“We didn’t have a specific conversation about it,” Campanile said. “But I think she knew kind of the role she was going to do. It was just kind of seamless. She was ready for the moment.
“Gracen really stepped up into that void when we lost Azyah. She really picked up the slack scoring-wise, developed into a better defender, worked hard and has been a great sparkplug.
Over the six games, Gehrke averaged 12 points and made 17 3-pointers.
“I loved starting,” Gehrke said. “But I’m only a sophomore. I wasn’t expecting to start going into the season. I really wasn’t expecting to play as much as I did.
“Having to step up when Azyah went down, it was something I took for myself. I really needed to do that.”
What it has done for Gehrke now should also give her a boost in the future.
“It has helped my confidence a lot,” she said. “Coming off the bench at the start of the season, I wasn’t shooting my best. But after I started, I began shooting a lot better.
“Now, every time I take a shot, I feel more confident than I did ever before.”
More Top Picks Best Sleeper Sofas