Kentucky soccer commit Sydni Fink makes basketball play of day as Naperville North tops Central: ‘I felt the energy’

Naperville North point guard Sydni Fink made a steal at half-court and sprinted to the basket for a layup as she was knocked to the floor with 27 seconds left Wednesday night.

That drew the loudest roar of the night from Naperville North’s fan section, which is known as the “Dawg Pound.”

“It was really exciting,” Fink said. “I felt the energy from the ‘Dawg Pound,’ from our bench and from players on the court. It all came together, and it kind of just came out in me on defense.”

It sure did. That basket accounted for Fink’s only points of the game, but the 5-foot-9 junior led all players with eight steals and six assists as the host Huskies topped crosstown rival Naperville Central 62-53 in a DuPage Valley Conference game.

The performance provided a glimpse into the potential of Fink, a Kentucky soccer commit who is in her first year as a varsity starter on the hardwood.

“Central is a very, very good team, so at first it was a little nerve-wracking, but this team has helped me gain my confidence with the ball,” Fink said. “I’ve gotten more comfortable on the court.”

Fink hasn’t scored much yet, but she hasn’t had to because the Huskies (7-5, 2-1 DuPage Valley) have four starters capable of scoring in double figures.

That’s exactly what happened against the Redhawks (4-6, 0-3). Senior center Abby Homan scored a career-high 19 points, while senior guard Layla Henderson matched her career high with the same total.

Senior forward Peyton Fenner added 12 points, and senior guard Abby Drendel chipped in 10 points and five assists.

Henderson, who scored nine points during an opening 20-6 run, was thrilled for Fink.

“Syd really knows that she’s needed heavily on this team,” Henderson said. “We value her so much on defense, and she gets a ton of assists.

“Even though she’s not looking for her own shot, she’s always willing to create for others, and I think that really helps us. And her energy is crazy. She’s always excited and always jumping up.”

That activity wreaked havoc for the Redhawks, who committed 29 turnovers, 19 of which were the result of steals.

“We were so impatient at breaking their press,” Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum said. “We shoot ourselves in the foot time and time again. They’re daring us to throw it to them, and so we do. It’s frustrating.”

The Huskies’ length is disruptive to most teams. But Fink brings an added wrinkle.

“I feel like soccer players are very good basketball players on the defensive side of the ball because they are so good at reading and anticipating,” Naperville North coach Erin Colletti said. “When Sydni was the second line of our press, she was just able to anticipate and read really well.

“Central wasn’t clean with their passing. Sydni did an awesome job of reading that.”

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That’s why the Huskies, who improved to 9-0 against the Redhawks in Colletti’s tenure, were able to overcome another great game from Naperville Central freshman Trinity Jones, who scored a career-high 27 points to go with a game-high 15 rebounds and four steals.

The Redhawks cut the gap to 43-37 in the third quarter, but the Huskies answered with an 11-2 run capped by Homan’s layup off an assist from Fink, who said her court awareness transfers from soccer.

So, too, does her pass-first mentality.

“Working for my teammates is one of my main goals,” Fink said. “I’m trying to get assists for them.”

Colletti calls Fink a warrior and a natural athlete. More is to come.

“This game has turned up my energy and confidence,” Fink said. “So I’m going to get back out there and try to work for my shot more.”

Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.