O’Neill’s late shots push Oswego past Yorkville

As was the case in Friday’s win over Oswego East, Oswego’s girls basketball team struggled from the outside most of the night Saturday in nonconference action at Yorkville.

But also like Friday’s game, Oswego sophomore Siarra O’Neill got hot just long enough to help the Panthers pull away.

Up only two points early in the fourth quarter, O’Neill drilled consecutive three-pointers followed by two free throws from Krissy Klingbeil for a quick 8-0 run that pushed Oswego to a 45-40 win.

For the game, Oswego hit only 3-of-15 three-point attempts.

With the win, 10th-seeded Oswego beat the two teams seeded just ahead of it in sectionals in consecutive nights.

“Siarra knocked down a couple of threes in the fourth quarter and from there it was just making sure that we controlled the game,” Oswego coach Chad Pohlmann said. “We made enough free throws at the end of the game to extend it out. It’s a really nice win. They don’t realize it yet because they’re so young, but we had a really good week.”

Oswego (13-10) trailed for much of the first half, but Amri Wilder got hot, scoring eight of her team-high 14 points in the second quarter, to give the Panthers a 22-19 lead at the half.

But Yorkville (16-8) wouldn’t go away. The Foxes cut the lead to 32-30 on a Britanny Straznickas rebound put-back to start the fourth quarter before O’Neill drilled her crucial three-pointers for Oswego.

“It was a hard-fought game, very physical,” Yorkville coach Luke Engelhardt said. “I thought our girls were very aggressive. Siarra hit a couple of big shots and that was the game. She’s a good player. She can definitely shoot from the outside and they were two big ones that they needed.”

Oswego turned the ball over 24 times, but the Panthers offset that with a 37-to-26 rebounding edge led by Jordan Campbell; she hauled down 14 rebounds to go with nine points in the win.

“This is the best week Jordan has had all season,” Pohlmann said. “When she plays well, it elevates our team. She has a lot of ability. When she dials in and gets focused, she can make a lot of plays. It just makes our team that much better.”

Mackenzie Bollinger led all scorers with 16 points for Yorkville. She added eight rebounds. Straznickas scored 10 points.