Offense stalls in second half in New Trier girls’ loss to Evanston

New Trier girls basketball coach Teri Rodgers and company are looking for answers following another tough defeat Thursday night in Evanston.

The Trevians slowed down in the second quarter and then scored just four points in the third quarter en route to a 48-38 loss to the Wildkits — New Trier’s third straight defeat.

“They just got us on our heels,” Trevians coach Teri Rodgers said of the Wildkits. “We couldn’t get the ball inside, couldn’t really run our offense. They turned up the pressure and we didn’t respond.”

The Trevians had a three-point lead at halftime and extended it to five, 22-17, early in the third quarter, but the Wildkits answered with a 14-2 run that completely flipped the game.

Evanston senior Zuri Ransom had 6 points and 6 rebounds in the third quarter alone, while the Trevians managed just two field goals, both from senior Sela Klein.

Turnovers also hampered the Trevians’ offense opportunities. They coughed up more than 20 possessions, a major factor in the Wildkits’ comeback.

“We stopped attacking. We got on our heels. You can’t play this game at this level on your heels,” Rodgers said. “We have to get mentally stronger. We have to be stronger with the ball mentally and physically and we’re not there. We have to get there.”

Klein led New Trier with 17 points, including 7 in the fourth quarter, but the Trevians could not get within six points down the stretch. Reese Leahy and Erin Floyd (7 rebounds) added 5 points apiece for New Trier.

The loss dropped the Trevians to 7-6 on the season and 2-2 in the Central Suburban South. They will try to work out some kinks in the Dundee-Crown holiday tournament Dec. 27-29 and return from a holiday break with Grow the Game shootout games on Jan. 5-6.

“We have the ability, we have the talent, we just got it put it together for four quarters and we’re not doing that,” Rodgers said. “It’s really them sticking together and being confidence. Believing in themselves, believing in each other. They’re close; we’re just not putting it together long enough.”