Lady Bucs prepared for NIC-10 assault

By Chris Johnson

REPORTER

The head-to-head matches with Hononegah and Harlem have been recorded for Belvidere High School and the Lady Bucs came up short each time.

However, in their three-point loss to the Lady Huskies, many things went right for Belvidere. Harlem won 55-52 but had a difficult time handling Belvidere in the process.

The Lady Huskies started fast and found a lot of holes to exploit as they garnered a 10-point edge, 18-8 in the first quarter. Belvidere responded with a furious assault on the backboard and carried the second period by nine points. At the half, the Lady Bucs found themselves within one point of Harlem, down 26-25.

Harlem is expected to be a physical force in the NIC-10. They are going to bounce around inside and make players hit their shots from the free throw line, late in games, when it counts the most.

With their style and patience in the third period, the Lady Huskies found a way to get the edge on the inside game and pulled ahead by three. They worked around Belvidere. The Lady Huskies won the period 15-13 and held the edge, 41-38 heading into the fourth.

Each team leveled 14 points in the period, but for Belvidere, it wouldn’t be enough. Their need was to win the quarter by a three-and one. The Lady Huskies moved away with the NIC-10 win as Belvidere settled in on the remaining portion of their 2016 winter sports schedule.

On Tuesday, Dec. 13, Belvidere played host to Guilford. The Lady Vikings presented a different look to Belvidere as they pushed their way into the evening’s affairs. Details of the Tuesday night contest are unavailable at this time.

On Friday, Dec. 16, the Lady Bucs take on Freeport. This will give them an opportunity at securing a much-needed NIC-10 win.

With the quick start Boylan has enjoyed and with teams such as Harlem, Guilford, and Hononegah on the Titans’ heels, Belvidere will need to find ways to consistently win games such as those to be played over the next few weeks of the season.

A non-conference meeting in McHenry on Saturday, Dec. 17 precedes the NIC-10 2016 winter-season closer and instant rematch, or second opportunity to win, against Freeport on Monday, Dec. 19.

January 2017 will open with another “much-needed” win on Jan. 6. The Lady Bucs will need to be ready for their showdown with Rockford East. Belvidere North gives Belvidere its final chance at getting everything in place before expected conference-leader, or hot-chasing contender Rockford Boylan, plays host on Friday, Jan. 13.

Following the non-conference meeting with the Marengo Lady Indians on Monday, Jan. 16, the Lady Bucs embark on a streak of consecutive head-to-head matches with NIC-10 challengers.

The run begins with Jefferson on Tuesday, Jan. 17 and works into a Thursday, Feb. 9 season-closer at Rockford Guilford.

However, by the beginning of February, Belvidere will already know how it might fare when the regional playoffs beginning Thursday, Feb. 16.

The IHSA Seeding Committee already begins to collect information before January games are completed.