Crystal Lake South lets it fly in win over Jacobs

CRYSTAL LAKE – Crystal Lake South coach Mark Mucha swears his team doesn’t make a habit out of practicing shots from extra-long distance.

But when the time comes, the Gators aren’t afraid to let it fly.

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Jacobs' Sarina Acheatel battles with Crystal Lake South's Tessa Melhuish for a rebound during a Fox Valley Conference basketball game on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at Crystal Lake South High School. (Gregory Shaver/Gregory Shaver )

“I think a lot of times, when they get those game juices and get that adrenaline flowing, it just extends their range even more,” Mucha said. “It’s the Friday night atmosphere. We talk about how much this means to them and how much fun this is.

“It just takes over, gives them a little extra boost for those long shots.”

South wasn’t shy about where it shot from Friday night against Jacobs. But it worked very well for the Gators, who made 10 3s in a 56-47 win over the Golden Eagles in their Fox Valley Conference game.

Freshman guard Gaby Dzik finished with a team-high 21 points and four 3s, junior guard Laken LePage had 16 points, seven assists, four steals and a pair of 3s, and sophomore Makena Cleary added 12 points and four 3s, including the first two 3s and points of the game for South.

Dzik and LePage both swished 3s from well beyond the 3-point line, while Cleary was a little more modest. All 10 of the 3s went straight through the net without much indication of them even grazing the rim.

“Everyone just kind of shoots however far they think their range is,” said Cleary, who led her team with 16 points and four 3s in a loss to Hampshire on Tuesday. “When [Dzik and LePage] are shut down, I just know that I have to step up and help them out, and then I can return the favor to them.”

Mucha said it took some time for him to get used to the long 3s, with some of them coming from 25 feet or more.

“You just try to play to your strengths, and we’re doing that right now,” Mucha said.

Sophomore forward Tessa Melhuish also had a strong game for the Gators, adding six points and a team-high 12 rebounds. Melhuish, along with Cleary, is a second-year varsity player after being tested as a freshman.

“We really rushed them to get that experience, but they grew from it, and now you’re seeing it pay dividends,” Mucha said. “They continue to be hungry, and they continue to get better.”

Melhuish’s game, unlike the team’s top three scorers in Dzik, LePage and Cleary, is inside the paint – and it serves the Gators well on days when outside shots aren’t falling.

South (10-8, 5-3 FVC) has more than tripled last year’s win total already.

“I think last year was more just try your best and do what you can,” Melhuish said. “This year, it’s you really need to push yourself and push your teammates. We’re a lot more competitive.

“It’s been a much better year.”

Jacobs (6-12, 3-5) was led by sophomore Olivia Schuster, who had a career-high 28 points on 13-of-21 shooting, along with 12 rebounds.

The Eagles trailed 27-16 at half and 44-31 after three, but started to inch closer in the fourth quarter thanks to 17 second-half points from Schuster. She missed only one of her last eight shots.

“She played one of her best games interior-wise,” Eagles coach Jonathon Reibel said of the 6-foot-1 forward. “Tonight, to be around the rim and finish how she did was great. We’ve been on her, talking about her footwork, how to get easier shots and better shots.

“She really took a big step tonight.”

Senior guard Sophia Acot added five points and six assists for Jacobs, while junior Zara Lewis chipped in eight points and six rebounds.