Loyd Show Has Supporting Cast in Wolves' Win

Plenty of top-notch teams and players participated in the annual McDonald's Shootout, held at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park over the Martin Luther King holiday weekend.

But Niles West High School junior Jewell Loyd was arguably the crown jewel of the three-day event.

Loyd put on a show during the Wolves’ Monday afternoon matchup against Kankakee's Bishop McNamara Catholic High School. She scored 32 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and had five steals to lead Niles West to a 67-50 victory.

“I keep on saying every single game and every time we come out that she’s the best player in the state of Illinois,” said Niles West coach Tony Konsewicz. “Not only because of what she does offensively, but what she does defensively. She blocks shots, rebounds and she gets the steals, as well.

“She’s so dynamic because she can bury a three, and then she’ll take it to the basket or post you up. She’s an all-around dynamic ballplayer.”

Loyd scored nine of the Wolves’ first 12 points as Niles West jumped to a 25-13 first-quarter lead. She had 19 points at intermission.

Bishop McNamara threatened to make a game of it in the third quarter, scoring the first five points of the period and cutting what was a comfortable Niles West lead at halftime to 37-34. However, the Wolves outscored the Fightin' Irish 7-2 over the next two minutes and opened up a 44-36 advantage on Molly Kleppin’s three-pointer.

Both Konsewicz and Loyd noted Niles West’s supporting cast in the win. Kleppin tallied 14 points, including three from beyond the three-point arc, while Dashae Shumate added 13.

“We have other people contributing and that helps Jewell that much more,” Konsewicz said.

“I think everyone is starting to realize that, 'the season’s almost over and I need to step up,’ ” Loyd said. “A lot of these girls, that’s what they love to do. So it helps a lot when the girls step up and it’s fun. It makes it really fun.

“I had confidence in them and they trust in me. We trust the coaches, we trust our fans and that means a lot. And no matter what happens, we’re a family.”

The 15-6 Wolves—whom Loyd thinks are “starting to gain a lot of respect”—host New Trier at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in a Central Suburban South contest.

“I feel for a long time that Niles West has never gotten respect, and now we’re starting to,” Loyd said. “We came out here and showed that we’re a good team. We might not have the best talent, but we work our butts off.”

Niles West 67, Bishop McNamara 50

Niles West—Shumate 4 5-6 13, Kleppin 4 3-4 14, DiJohn 2 0-0 6, Loyd 11 9-9 32, Moy 1 0-0 2, Brandon 0 0-0 0, Nakawatase 0 0-0 0, Cardenas 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 17-19 67.

Bishop McNamara—Kidwell 0 0-0 0, Coglianese 1 0-0 2, LeReau 2 3-4 8, Tatum 7 4-4 18, Schaafsma 4 3-4 11, Olszewski 2 0-0 4, Weigt 2 0-0 5, LaMore 1 0-4 2, Rashenskas 0 0-0 0, Calvert 0 0-0 0.

Totals   19 10-16 50.

Score by quarters

Niles West                        25   12   14    16—67

Bishop McNamara         13    16    9    12—50

Three-point baskets: Niles West 6 (Kleppin, 3; DiJohn 2; Loyd, 1 ); Bishop McNamara 2 (Weigt, 1; LaReau, 1). Total fouls: Niles West 13, Bishop McNamara 17. Turnovers: Niles West 12, Bishop McNamara 11.