Aubrey Galvan is a rarity among players with such limited varsity experience.
The Deerfield freshman guard can produce a highlight play in a flash, whether with her extraordinary ballhandling skills, next-level court vision or anticipation on the defensive end. She dribbles the ball with the comfort and precision of a player much older.
But Galvan isn’t the Warriors’ only freshman guard capable of taking over a game on both ends of the court. Nikki Kerstein takes a more understated approach, letting the game come to her. She attacks via angles and change-of-pace dribbles, using her perimeter jumper to set up her driving.
“They have been in pressure situations and big moments and learned so much that’s it’s truly incredible that they’re freshmen,” Deerfield coach Nicole Keith said. “They are absolutely beyond their years in basketball. They feed off each other.”
Galvan, Kerstein and Kerstein’s older sister Lexi, a junior guard who was a key component of Deerfield’s regional title two years ago, form one of the best backcourts in the state.
Those three were at it again Thursday in the second-seeded Warriors’ 64-42 win against seventh-seeded Crystal Lake Central in the Class 3A Deerfield Regional championship game.
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Lexi Kerstein scored a game-high 29 points and had five steals, Nikki Kerstein had 16 points, four assists and four steals, and Galvan had 13 points, five rebounds and five steals for Deerfield (25-5), which will play third-seeded Prairie Ridge (27-5) in a Grayslake Central Sectional semifinal at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Paige Keller had 23 points for the Tigers (20-13).
“We’ve all really grown as a team,” Galvan said. “It’s been a fun ride.”
Galvan and Nikki Kerstein have been behind the wheel for that ride all season.
Galvan, who has drawn interest from numerous Big Ten programs, wowed the home crowd early in the second quarter Thursday. After grabbing the ball under Crystal Lake Central’s basket, she took a dribble and tossed a one-handed outlet pass that traveled more than 50 feet to a streaking Nikki Kerstein for a layup to give the Warriors a 27-10 lead.
But that’s nothing new for Galvan, who can toss a behind-the-back or flip pass in the blink of an eye.
“I’m used to doing plays like that because we do it in practice,” she said.
Galvan is averaging 10.8 points, 4.4 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 3.7 steals, and she has a team-best 23 blocks in 27 games. Nikki Kerstein ranks second on the team in scoring, averaging 15.1 points, 5.7 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 5.1 steals.
“It’s been awesome playing with Aubrey,” Nikki Kerstein said. “We have a great connection as freshmen on the court that’s really hard to have. We play well together and understand how each of us play.
“Me and Aubrey’s games are different in that she likes to drive a lot to the basket, and I like to pull up for shots. We’re able to still find each other, though.”
Their immense potential could be a nightmare for Lake County coaches for the next three years. The Warriors have already surpassed expectations this season, with Galvan and Nikki Kerstein adapting quickly to the physical and mental demands of playing heavy varsity minutes. The development of junior forwards Morgan and Olivia Kerndt adds another dimension.
“I’m just staying in the present, seeing what will come, but I’m excited, definitely,” Galvan said. “I definitely feel we’ve done better than expected this season.”
Crystal Lake Central coach Derek Crabill, who said his team won 20 games for the first time since 1995, gushed about the potential of Galvan and Nikki Kerstein.
“They’re super quick and understand the spacing on the floor offensively and defensively and play at a tempo that not many other teams do,” he said. “They have a lot of talent.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.