A fun game of rock-paper-scissors this was not.
This was a battle.
South Elgin literally took Rockton Hononegah’s best shot — an elbow to the forehead that sent the Storm’s Raina Yang to the floor and then to the hospital.
But the 5-foot-5 Yang, a feisty junior guard, returned Tuesday night and sparked a comeback that helped make program history.
“It was a hard hit but it’s OK,” Yang said. “We stayed in it, came back, pulled it together and got the ‘W.'”
Ella Winterhalder scored a game-high 15 points while Caitlyn Tolentino and Chloe Kmiec each added 11 as South Elgin rallied for a 57-48 victory in a Class 4A DeKalb Sectional semifinal.
The Storm (27-5), which came back from an eight-point deficit in the second quarter, beat Rockton Hononegah (30-4) for their first sectional win in four tries.
South Elgin advances to play at 7 p.m. Friday in the sectional final against Barrington, which beat Huntley 53-36 in the other semifinal. And Yang’s return made a big difference.
“I think Raina is the glue of our team,” Winterhalder said.
This night she was.
Yang was pressuring an opposing ballhandler as South Elgin held a 9-2 lead with 3:15 remaining in the first quarter. The player swung her elbows, trying to clear space, and connected.
Yang was helped off the floor and taken by her parents and DeKalb’s training staff to nearby Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital.
“The doctor said I’m going to need stitches,” Yang said. “But obviously, I could play through it.”
After she left, Hononegah’s 1-2-2 trapping press became more effective and the Indians went on an 8-0 run. They opened the second quarter with a 9-2 spurt to take a 19-11 lead.
That’s where it stood when Yang returned to the gym and went back into the game with 3:35 remaining in the first half.
Caroline Croft made a 3-pointer that started a 15-3 burst, allowing South Elgin to close the half with a 26-22 lead.
Yang, unfazed by her experience, had a pair of assists and a basket in that stretch.
“She’s our ballhandler,” Winterhalder said. “Raina can knock down shots midrange. Most importantly, she is poised with the ball. She doesn’t force anything and has a high basketball IQ.
“I felt like without her, we were struggling to make the right play, make the right pass. She came back in and gave us a spark.”
Hononegah struggled taking care of the ball in the second half, committing 10 turnovers. The Storm outscored the Indians 31-26 in the closing 16 minutes.
South Elgin beat Hononegah for the second time this season. The first victory, a 50-46 decision, came in the second game of the season.
“I was definitely scared I might have a concussion but I’m good,” Yang said. “I’m glad I was able to get back in the game.”
All of Winterhalder’s points came on five 3-pointers and she drew three charges in the game, giving her 42 for the season.
“It’s something I like to do,” Winterhalder said. “It’s kind of an undervalued thing on defense. Not a lot of people are expecting it, but it sparks our players.”
Kmiec, a 5-7 junior guard, came off the bench and scored all of her points in the fourth quarter, making three 3-pointers.
“Chloe just has ice water in her veins,” South Elgin coach Dan Mandernack said. “And getting (Yang) back was what we needed. It’s hard to beat their press. Luckily, we start five guards.
“Yang is such a catalyst. She calms down everyone, gets the offense set up. The kids never panicked. We said it’s the biggest game of the year but the most fun game of the year.”