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Most players know their shooting range based on certain landmarks on the court.
St. Charles East’s Emma Yakey figures it out more on feel than a tangible spot on the floor.
“It’s just whenever I feel like I’m open and I see the basket, it’s like, ‘This isn’t that far, just let it go,'” Yakey said. “I’ve been working on my range, and it’s nice to see it pay off.”
That payoff continues to come from long distance for Yakey.
The senior guard, who set the program’s all-time 3-point record earlier this season, added four more to her record Monday night in 55-49 nonconference win over West Aurora.
Aspen Weeks led all scorers with 18 points for West Aurora (3-5), while Niallie Evans added 10. Shooter Yakey, meanwhile, scored a team-high 13 points for the Saints (5-3).
“Last year, she shot it right from the 3-point line,” St. Charles East coach Josh Foster said. “I was like, ‘You know, you can back up and get more space to get that shot up.’
“She just took it even farther. She can shoot from there all day. I tell her all the time, ‘Back up a little more, see what happens.'”
Growing up, Yakey didn’t think she would be a 3-point shooter. She sprouted to 5-foot-8 by sixth grade, so she figured her future would be on the block.
“I was this height in sixth grade and I just stopped growing,” Yakey said. “I was a post and I had to transition to guard. I think it was about eighth grade going into freshman year, knowing I wouldn’t be the tallest player anymore. The work has paid off at this point.”
Having a coach that basically tells her to shoot at will also helps.
“Coach has never made me feel not confident in my abilities,” Yakey said. “He’s never been like, ‘Don’t shoot that.’ He’s instilled that confidence in everybody.
“That’s one of the main things in shooting — confidence, seeing the ball go in, not having any doubt.”
St. Charles East kept West Aurora at arm’s length all night Monday.
Yakey’s shooting was in the middle of it, with her three 3-pointer in the first quarter giving the Saints a 14-11 lead. They never trailed again.
When the Blackhawks got within 28-27 in the second quarter, Yakey drilled a 3-pointer to end a 7-0 run and help St. Charles East increase its cushion.
In the end, even if Yakey’s long 3-pointer doesn’t go in, it leaves Foster unfazed because of what it does for the rest of the team.
“The thing is, when she shoots from back there, they have to guard her,” Foster said. “We have a bunch of other people that can get to the rim, so that opens everything else up.
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“That’s the power of the 3-point shot. When someone shoots it from way out there, they have to come out even further. It just bends the defense.”
As Yakey’s career went along, breaking Kyra Washington’s program record of 138 3-pointers started to look like more of a reality.
In a 54-47 win over Downers Grove South on Nov. 17, Yakey broke the record and scored 21 points. After Monday, her mark now stands at 158.
“It’s just something you work toward,” Yakey said. “Knowing I would most likely break it my senior year, it was something big and special.
“At the beginning of the season, it’s a big momentum boost for the whole team.”
Junior point guard Alexis Maridis also made her season debut Monday after recovering from an injury.
That has Yakey optimistic the Saints are on the right track.
“I know every loss was a learning chance,” Yakey said. “With Alexis back, I think that will be a big plus for us. We feel a lot more comfortable in our own positions.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.