By Paul Johnson | Chicago Tribune
UPDATED: January 10, 2025 at 1:50 PM CST
Every game, St. Edward’s Savannah Lynch goes about her business with a noticeable ease.
If someone were to just look at box scores, they would think the sophomore guard is piling up her robust numbers by just putting up shots at will and
taking a selfish approach to the game. That would be far from the truth, though. “I think her confidence keeps improving,” Green Wave coach Michelle Dawson said of Lynch. “I think her trust in her teammates and just being so versatile helps free her up at times
.
“Teams can’t just zero in on her.”
Lynch was zeroed in again Thursday night against Aurora Christian, leading all scorers with 21 points and adding 13 rebounds, five steals, four assists and a blocked shot in a 67-26 victory. Layne Dawson added 12 points for the host Green Wave (14-5) in Elgin. Jada Vizcaya paced Aurora Christian (4-7) with seven points.
Those are decent numbers. But the way Lynch gets her gaudy totals would suggest she’s forcing up shots or hogging the ball. Watching her play,
however, paints a completely different picture. “I feel like, when I get my teammates more involved in the game, that will make my game easier,” Lynch said. “It just opens it up for everyone. Everyone is getting open shots. Everyone is getting open drives.” Lynch burst onto the scene as a freshman, and her maturation has continued this season. Now, she has taken another step forward, and Dawson knows why that’s the case.
“She hasn’t taken any time off of basketball,” Dawson said. “She’s worked hard on her jump shot. She’s worked hard on slashing and getting to the
basket. She’s worked relentlessly to improve her game. She’s picking up communication on the court and stepping up her leadership role. “I just see her continue to gain that confidence in herself and in her team.”
On Thursday, Aurora Christian cut the lead to 16-12 in the second quarter. The Eagles knew what they were getting themselves into, though, having played the Green Wave earlier this season.
St. Edward pulled away by ending the first half on a 17-2 spurt, paced by Lynch’s seven points. “I mean, we knew they were a good team coming in,” Aurora Christian coach Tori Henning said. “We knew what to expect. We played with energy and effort and we were able to cut the lead. “They started hitting their shots that they weren’t hitting right away. They outsize us and they have more experience than we do.” Aurora Christian tried several different strategies to slow Lynch down, but as usual, she found a way around it and produced another stellar performance.
“Whatever defense they’re in, we’re able to adjust to it and we’re able to get open shots,” Lynch said. “Anybody can do anything any night. They all lift me
up.” And St. Edward is on a roll. The Green Wave set the goal of winning the Lisle Cage Classic over the holidays and accomplished that feat. That set things up for the second half of the season. “Our goal coming in was to win it, and I think that really boosted our confidence as a team,” Lynch said. “We know if we play like that, we’re going to be pretty hard to beat.”
Last season, the Green Wave probably wasn’t ready to win a tournament like that. There was talent, for sure, but even Lynch admitted, they were really
young and trying to find their way. “This year, it’s all coming together,” Lynch said. “I really think we’re more complete. I think we still have room to grow, but I think right now we’re seeing it work out.
“I think this season is shaking out to what our expectations were.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
Originally Published: January 10, 2025 at 1:46 PM CST