Girls Basketball: Elmwood Park rallies to defeat Fenton

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Updated: March 3, 2012 8:25AM

Elmwood Park’s girls basketball team ended a week where it split a pair of conference games with a huge overtime win at Fenton.

The Tigers dropped a home decision to Timothy Christian 46-28 on Jan. 24, but they responded with a spirited 55-45 double-overtime victory at the Bison. They were trailing big in both games, but were able to mount a great comeback Friday.

The Tigers (8-15, 3-7) were led by junior Joanna Bukowinski with 26 points against Fenton, including 23 in the second half and the overtime sessions. Senior Ade Maron scored 11 points, including a clinching three-pointer in double-overtime while also contributing four assists. Junior Olga Lipiszko added 10 and had the game-tying three late in the fourth quarter.

“Something I have been preaching to the girls is that if we play hard, good things will happen,” said Elmwood Park head coach Brian Linhart. “There was a moment in the third when Jo took the ball coast-to-coast and got fouled. As soon as she got to the line, I told my assistant Lisa Dennison, ‘Jo’s going to put us on her back and carry us,’ and she did.”

Elmwood Park fell behind by as many as 15 points in the first half at Fenton and went into halftime down 22-12. Their defensive performance was wanting in that first half as they were allowing too many second chances. Things changed in the third as the Tigers drew within five, heading into the fourth quarter.

“This game was good for us because I felt it created a state playoff environment. Fenton is the No. 3 seed in our sectional, and we are the (No.) 9,” said Linhart. “It was their senior night, so they had the emotional aspect on their side. Hopefully this showed our team just how great we can be.”

The Tigers had no answer for Timothy Christian earlier in the week, falling behind 16-3 after the first quarter and allowing a 15-6 run at the start of the second half. The Trojans grabbed 10 offensive boards and took advantage of 13 Elmwood Park turnovers. Bukowinski scored 13 points, while Lipiszko added seven.

It’s a busy week for the Tigers with their final four games of the season coming within a seven-day span. After playing at Maine East on Jan. 30, they will host Riverside-Brookfield in a Metro Suburban Conference tilt the following night. After Thursday’s game at Glenbard South, the Tigers finish the regular season hosting Leyden on Feb. 6. Then they prepare to host the regional tournament beginning play against Clemente on Feb. 15, in the semifinal with hopes of returning to the championship game for a third straight year.