When Zoe Trunk returned to the court, Sandburg’s Nick Fotopoulos felt like he lost another coach.
Trunk missed the first five games of the season due to illness, but while she sat on the bench alongside the head coach, the junior point guard wasn’t moping or pouting.
She was learning and teaching.
“She was always asking coaches’ questions,” Fotopoulos said. “She was also telling us a few things like ‘we should go back here’ and ‘we should do this here’ and we said, ‘OK.’
“She was like another coach on the bench.”
Truth be told, Fotopoulos is just fine with Trunk being back on the court for the Eagles. She may be a good coach, but she’s even more valuable running the show.
That was the case Thursday afternoon as Trunk scored a career-high 30 points in a 76-55 quarterfinal win over Romeoville in the Sandburg Holiday Classic in Orland Park.
Earlier in the day, Sandburg (7-5) beat Plainfield East 54-28 in the first round of the tournament, with freshman Makaleigh Terry leading the Eagles with 14 points.
Two other area teams reached the semifinals. Providence (9-5) won a pair of games, with Molly Knight piling up 47 points. Defending tourney champion Lincoln-Way East (9-5) also won twice, including Alaina Vargas scoring 21 points in a 44-38 quarterfinal win over Minooka.
Trunk, meanwhile, was on fire against Romeoville (6-8), helping Sandburg earn a fourth straight win. She categorizes her time spent on the bench as well-spent.
“I tried to give input on things I would see,” Trunk said. “It’s kind of hard to be on the bench, but at the same time, you can see your team out there and you want to help them in any way you can.
“Honestly, sitting there and knowing my role … I’m still a player, but I can tell someone ‘good pass’ and bring some energy to them.”
Trunk’s twin sister, Olivia, scored 11 of her 15 points in the first quarter against Romeoville. Count her as one of the Eagles who is happy to see Zoe make her return.
“It makes our offense flow better,” Olivia said. “And it’s great to always have somebody supporting you on the court. She brings a lot of energy and picks everyone up, not just me.”
The twins, who also play softball, have been on varsity in basketball since freshman year. They’re unsure about their college future or the sport they will play, but they would like to stay together.
Sandburg also stayed together after losing three straight games to Stagg, Lincoln-Way West and Lockport. The Eagles righted their ship Dec. 20 with a 55-53 win in double overtime over Andrew and one day later with a 41-34 stunner over Hinsdale Central in the Sandburg Shot Clock Classic.
“I feel like we have a young group, and after each game, we keep developing,” Zoe said. “We’re getting better, and if this keeps up, we’re going to have a good future.”
“After coming off a couple of losses, it felt good to get those wins before the tournament,” Olivia said. “It was something we needed.”
And Sandburg also needed the spark that Zoe provided upon her return.
“Zoe is obviously dynamic and allows us to play a little more freely,” Fotopoulos said. “She’s able to get to the land and drive and kick for us. The biggest thing she does for us is defense.
“She is, by far, our best defender. She is able to use her hands and use her feet and get tips. That changes our whole dynamic as a team. We are able to press teams more and with a little more authority.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
