Senior trio leads charge as Lyons girls' basketball edges past Lincoln-Way East in battle of wills.
Lyons is at its most formidable when it shifts from defense into offense. The Lions' potent half-court game is complemented by their defensive prowess, which forces turnovers and errant passes through the 1-2-2 press led by senior forward O'Brien. This versatility makes them a tough opponent for any team in the area.
O'Brien's ability to block shots and ignite transition baskets was still on full display despite struggling from the field and drawing few fouls. The 6'1" senior is an anomaly among her peers, capable of both shot-blocking and making accurate kick-ahead passes. Instead of deferring or showing frustration, O'Brien continued to attack, fueling the team's resilience.
"We just wanted to find ways to impact the game," O'Brien explained. "I needed to make those shots eventually." Her teammates' confidence provided her with the assurance she needed.
Senior forward Gwen Smith, often referred to as a Swiss Army Knife due to her defensive prowess and ability to score, proved invaluable against Lincoln-Way East's press. Coach Meghan Hutchens praised Smith for knowing what the team needed and being hard to take off the floor.
The Lions' defense was their calling card, holding control for most of the game before making crucial adjustments in the fourth quarter. Freshman guard Kennedy Moore, who began the season on the bench but made an impact with her timely scoring run, helped seal the deal.
However, Lyons' inability to finish at times allowed Lincoln-Way East to stay in the game. Nevertheless, Smith and junior Taylor Carroll capitalized on opportune buckets during the fourth quarter, sparking a 12-0 run that put the game out of reach.
For Lyons, games like this are crucial in building character and resilience over the course of the season. Despite the challenges posed by the referees' whistle, the team managed to stay composed and focused on the task at hand.
Their core – O'Brien, Mezan, and Smith – have been the driving force behind their success so far. These four-year varsity players are a testament to the program's commitment to developing strong leaders and depth.
"We definitely were getting mad," Smith admitted, "but that helped us rally together as a team." In the face of adversity, Lyons' trio proved once again why they're the backbone of the team, driving their squad towards victory on a gloomy winter day.
Lyons is at its most formidable when it shifts from defense into offense. The Lions' potent half-court game is complemented by their defensive prowess, which forces turnovers and errant passes through the 1-2-2 press led by senior forward O'Brien. This versatility makes them a tough opponent for any team in the area.
O'Brien's ability to block shots and ignite transition baskets was still on full display despite struggling from the field and drawing few fouls. The 6'1" senior is an anomaly among her peers, capable of both shot-blocking and making accurate kick-ahead passes. Instead of deferring or showing frustration, O'Brien continued to attack, fueling the team's resilience.
"We just wanted to find ways to impact the game," O'Brien explained. "I needed to make those shots eventually." Her teammates' confidence provided her with the assurance she needed.
Senior forward Gwen Smith, often referred to as a Swiss Army Knife due to her defensive prowess and ability to score, proved invaluable against Lincoln-Way East's press. Coach Meghan Hutchens praised Smith for knowing what the team needed and being hard to take off the floor.
The Lions' defense was their calling card, holding control for most of the game before making crucial adjustments in the fourth quarter. Freshman guard Kennedy Moore, who began the season on the bench but made an impact with her timely scoring run, helped seal the deal.
However, Lyons' inability to finish at times allowed Lincoln-Way East to stay in the game. Nevertheless, Smith and junior Taylor Carroll capitalized on opportune buckets during the fourth quarter, sparking a 12-0 run that put the game out of reach.
For Lyons, games like this are crucial in building character and resilience over the course of the season. Despite the challenges posed by the referees' whistle, the team managed to stay composed and focused on the task at hand.
Their core – O'Brien, Mezan, and Smith – have been the driving force behind their success so far. These four-year varsity players are a testament to the program's commitment to developing strong leaders and depth.
"We definitely were getting mad," Smith admitted, "but that helped us rally together as a team." In the face of adversity, Lyons' trio proved once again why they're the backbone of the team, driving their squad towards victory on a gloomy winter day.
The thing is, when you watch games like this, it's really clear that experience and leadership make all the difference. These three seniors, O'Brien, Smith, and Mezan, they're like glue for the team - always stepping up and leading by example. And it's not just about their individual skills, but how well they work together. I mean, think about it, if one of them is having a bad game, the others are still there to pick them up and make plays. It's really beautiful to see.
! O'Brien is literally unstoppable! she's like a shot-blocking machine 
and her ability to make those kick-ahead passes is genius 
. and can we talk about gwen smith? 
she's like a swiss army knife, that girl can do it all - score, defend, rebound... everything! 
. they could've gotten all frustrated and lost their cool, but nope! they just stayed focused and played smart ball 
. that's what sets them apart from other teams.
. these 4 yrs of varsity experience are paying off in big ways 
. can't wait to see how they do against their next opponent! 
. I mean, she's not just a shot-blocker, but also an incredible passer who can make plays for her teammates. And what I love most is that she didn't let her struggles from the field get to her - she just kept at it and fueled her team's resilience 
.
️. It's amazing how they stay focused even when things aren't going their way... I mean, dealing with some tough refs 
. But what really gets me is how they rally together as a team 
. They're truly building character and resilience 
. They're proof that hard work and dedication can take you far 
!
she could've gotten frustrated but she didn't, instead she kept pushing and that's what made the difference. and it's not just her it's her teammates too, they all worked together like a well-oiled machine 
coach hutchens must be so proud of these girls, they're the real MVPs 
. I love how O'Brien just kept it going despite struggling from the field - that's what leaders do 
, excelling in defense and scoring. I'm all about teams building character and resilience, especially through tough games like this one 
. It's amazing to see these four-year varsity players leading the charge 
. The whole team coming together when they got mad at the refs was everything 
the way they worked together to take down Lincoln-Way East was pure boss mode 
read more about Lyons' impressive win here: 
Omg, can you believe these senior girls are on fire?! 
! Their defense is insane 
. And let's be real, that 12-0 run by Smith and Carroll was just clutch 
she does it all! and kennedy moore came out of nowhere to score those crucial points in the 4th quarter 
what a team effort!! 
. They're truly showing what it means to have character and resilience - I'm rooting for them all the way 
!
insane and her ability to make those kick-ahead passes is like something out of a video game 
. And Gwen Smith, man... she's like a Swiss Army Knife on the court 
️, always knowing what to do when it matters most.
. It's all about teamwork and communication, you know? And Kennedy Moore stepping up as a freshman is like, whoa! Freshman season and she's already making an impact 
. These four-year vets are showin' off their leadership skills & depth - it's awesome to see a team build character like that 
! 
. The fact that O'Brien is literally playing two roles on the court is insane 
I mean, who else can defend AND score like that?!? She's literally the Swiss Army Knife of basketball 
and their ability to stay composed under pressure 
And that 12-0 run in the fourth quarter was pure MAGIC 
