Keira Bogott, Lily Novelle power Woodstock past Woodstock North in crosstown battle

WOODSTOCK – At 5-foot-8, senior guards Keira Bogott and Lily Novelle are the tallest players on Woodstock.

Despite the team’s lack of height, the Blue Streaks still find a way.

“We just use our speed and athleticism,” Novelle said.

“We work with what we’ve got,” Bogott added.

On Friday, Woodstock showed what it can do in a much-anticipated crosstown rivalry game against Woodstock North. The Blue Streaks used an 11-2 run in the second quarter to pull away from the Thunder and held on for a 51-44 Kishwaukee River Conference victory.

“We knew it was going to be nerve-wracking, and we knew no matter what happened it was going to be competitive,” said Bogott, who led all scorers with 17 points, including 12 in the second quarter.

“We just went in thinking we have to stay cool, calm and collected. Really just play our game, look for each other and be there for each other.”

Bogott and Novelle (11 points, three assists), both four-year varsity players and four-sport athletes, said Friday’s showdown had the biggest and loudest student section of any game all season.

“It’s something we always look forward to,” Novelle said. “It definitely adds some more pressure, but in the best way.”

Leading 13-9 after one, the Streaks came out hot in the second, getting a putback from junior Kendall O’Dea and a corner 3 from junior guard Patti Cygan (nine points, six rebounds) to go up 18-11.

Bogott, who grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, then knocked down back-to-back 3s, giving Woodstock a 24-11 lead. The Streaks went into halftime up 34-20 and led by as many as 18 points at 38-20 following a layup by Viki Cygan, Patti’s twin sister, with more than six minutes left in the third quarter.

Woodstock coach Jay Fuller said Bogott and Novelle make the Streaks go. While Bogott had her biggest offensive quarter in the second, Novelle chipped in both of her assists and a pair of steals.

Woodstock won the quarter 21-11.

“[Bogott] and Lily are the hardest workers on the team,” said Fuller, who coaches both in cross country and track.

Fuller said the Streaks were most worried about defending the 3-point shooting of the Thunder (4-12, 1-4). Earlier this season, senior Addie Udelhofen set the team record with eight in a game.

But it was what North coach Jay Justice called a breakout game from junior forward Alyssa Martin that helped keep his team in the game late. Martin, who was called up to varsity around Christmas, scored eight points in the third quarter as the Thunder trimmed the Streaks' deficit to single digits.

“We pulled her up and she hadn’t been playing much still, but we started to see some flashes here in the last few games,” Justice said. “Her height (6-foot) gives her an advantage. We’ve been working with her to try and understand more how to use it. I thought she really broke out tonight.”

Martin finished with 10 points and six rebounds off the bench, while senior Jadyn Grismer led the team with 15 points and eight rebounds. Brenna McConnell added seven points and Udelhofen and Abby Ward had six apiece.

Woodstock, which recently broke a four-game losing streak, hopes Friday’s emotional win over a familiar rival is what gets it rolling.

“It’s like a stepping stone. We had to get over this one and now we can look forward to the second half of the season and conference” said Bogott, who will play Division I soccer at North Alabama.

“We all trusted each other to get the job done,” Novelle added.