Kane County Chronicle Athlete of the Week: Batavia’s Hallie Crane, senior, girls basketball

Name: Hallie Crane

School: Batavia, senior

Sport: Girls basketball

Why she was selected: In the New Years Classic Tournament, Batavia’s Hallie Crane led the Bulldogs with 17 points against Westminster Academy (Florida) and a career-high 30 points against Doral Academy (Florida).

Crane was selected the Kane County Chronicle’s Athlete of the Week in an online vote.

Here is her Q&A with sports reporter Joel Boenitz.

Boenitz: You scored a career-high 30 points in your team’s win over Doral Academy. What were you feeling as the points started counting up?

Crane: I definitely just felt like I needed to keep on going. It was a pretty tight game so I knew we needed to keep pushing the pace. And I think it helped me overall to get more locked in because I just kept wanting to go and help find my teammates and finding the open pass, finding a good shot and just keep pushing the score.

Boenitz: You also had five 3-pointers in the contest. What was the feeling of knowing you could make shots fall from behind the arc?

Crane: I feel like when I shoot my 3s and they go in, I think it gives me a huge boost of confidence and it keeps allowing me to push forward and keep looking for the open opportunities and the open shots. And I think that during that game I was able to kind of maneuver my way around the defense and find those open shots, which helps me get those 3s.

Boenitz: You also had 17 points in an OT loss to Westminster Academy. How much confidence does it give you knowing you can put up points consistently, even against two schools ranked in the top 20 in Florida (according to MaxPreps)?

Crane: It gives me a lot of confidence knowing that I can play these top schools in different states and being able to find my way around and being able to score through them. And I think that just will help me with the upcoming challenging games because I know that it’s gonna be hard and me and my team are going to have to work together really well and just keep finding those open areas. And I think it’s going to help me find the correct shot and the right path to take during those games.

Boenitz: You’ve emerged as the team’s top scorer so far this season. What’s it been like being the go-to girl throughout the first half of the season for Batavia?

Crane: It feels pretty good and I have my teammates behind me to support me, but it feels really good knowing that I was able to come in and almost fill Brooke Carlson’s shoes. But I think that also just helps me gain more confidence because people put so much hope in me and it allows me to realize that I can actually go and do things. And I think that overall just helps my game.

Boenitz: There were a few questions about how the team would play after Brooke Carlson left, but you’re 12-4 so far. What do you think has helped your team play well so far this season?

Crane: I definitely think it’s because of the closeness of our team and how much we’ve bonded. Me and my teammates have probably played together some of them up to eight years. And I think that just helps us because we’re very connected and we’re always able to know how each other plays and we know what qualities each of us bring. And I think that just helps us overall because we’re able to find the shooter, find the right pass. And I think that’s a really good quality to have.

Boenitz: Do you have any pregame rituals?

Crane: I get Starbucks before mostly every game and get a Pink Drink. I also try to take a nap before games.