Evanston Girls State Their Case In CSL South Opener

The first week of December doesn’t usually feature what could be considered a statement win for any high school basketball team.

But if Evanston’s girls bring their A game like they did Tuesday night at New Trier, the Wildkits have to be considered one of the teams to beat this season in the Central Suburban League South division race.

With defending champion Maine South in rebuilding mode, no clear-cut favorite has emerged. But the Wildkits served notice to the rest of the league by pummeling New Trier 67-35 in the CSL South opener in Winnetka.

Coach Brittanny Johnson’s squad excelled at both ends of the court, led by sophomore Charity Bryant’s 29 points and 4 steals, plus Payton King’s 19 points and 7 rebounds. The winners forced 28 turnovers with relentless pressure as ETHS improved to 2-2 on the young season and New Trier fell to 2-4 overall.

New Trier still leads the all-time series between the two schools with 66 victories to 45 for ETHS. It was Evanston’s first win in the rivalry since December of 2023 and Havana Van Wyk also reached double figures (11 points) for the winners.

The Trevians aren’t likely to contend for conference honors under first-year head coach Stephanie Kuzmanic, who is replacing Hall of Fame coach Teri Rodgers. The Kits were able to exploit their quickness advantage and bolted to a 20-5 lead behind the hustling Bryant’s 15 points in the first period.

And not satisfied with a mere 29-15 halftime advantage, the Wildkits put the hammer down coming out of the break by reeling off 12 straight points to put the contest out of reach. The running clock was in effect when the game reached slaughter rule proportions in the final period.

The two teams played with a 35-second shot clock for the first time ever in CSL play as part of the history-making night. But the up-tempo pace that favored the visitors meant that the clock rarely rolled under 10 seconds before either team attempted a shot.

That’s just the way Evanston likes it.

“We were on the wrong side of a lot of running clock games last year --- too many of them --- so I felt for Stephanie (Kuzmanic),” Johnson said. “We came out with great energy and we played our way. We played the way we’re supposed to play. That was definitely our best first quarter of the (young) season. I liked our energy and our aggressiveness.

“We played great defense in the full-court and half-court. Everybody did their job and they trusted each other. Any time you beat New Trier, it’s a great win. I remember the first couple of years coaching here, knowing what a legend Teri Rodgers is and really wanting to beat her. Maybe now it’s flipped a little (in Evanston’s favor). Tonight we forced them to play in a way they’re not comfortable with.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever had TWO players step up in a game against New Trier like we had tonight. Payton really sparked us on defense and I was really happy with her performance. She really wanted to play in that last game against them last year and she didn’t get a chance to.”

King connected on 7-of-12 field goal attempts to help wipe out the personal frustration of a year ago, that began against New Trier. She suffered a concussion in the first quarter of the first meeting between the two rivals last season, but insisted after her outstanding performance that payback wasn’t really on her mind. She missed the rematch because she was still in the concussion protocol following another hard fall in another game.

And she left no doubt about just who she considers to be the favorite in the CSL South.

“I got knocked out in the first quarter of that game last year. It was an accident,” King said. “I went to take a charge against a girl they had who wasn’t that athletic or much of a ballhandler and I knew that on the play. All I know is there’s nothing better than beating New Trier.

“When we’re able to play our game, like we did tonight, and work hard, I do think we are the team to beat in the conference. When we play our A game, I doubt that there’s anyone better in the conference.”

Johnson, on the other hand, pumped the brakes on that sentiment --- at least for now.

“Everyone’s searching for who’s next? It will be interesting to see the scores from tonight and Friday to see where everybody else is,” Johnson said. “They (Evanston’s players) deserved this moment because they didn’t have many moments like this last year.

“When you execute the game plan like we did tonight, anything is possible.”