Prep Quick Shots: Nikki Harrison 'X factor'' for red-hot Harlem girls

Harlem (18-13) has four players averaging between eight and 10 points and a standout senior point guard in Brielle Shaw who is hard to rattle with a press. But Belvidere North coach Aaron Leonard says a fifth player, freshman Nikki Harrison, is the Huskies “X Factor” heading into Wednesday’s Class 4A regional irls basketball semifinals against DeKalb. The Huskies are 11-1 in their last 12 games, including upsets over NIC-10 champion Auburn and Belvidere North.

“They shot the lights out against us; 82-71 is not your typical girls basketball game — or even boys game,” Leonard said. “Bri Jackson is playing at a higher level than she did a month ago and Brielle Shaw is clicking. But Harrison is an X factor, a difference maker. She’s 5-11 or 6-feet tall and can handle the basketball and attack the rim. She’s only a freshman, but athletically she is right there with the seniors in our conference.

“She is playing at a higher level than she was a month ago. They have all improved a ton from a month ago. They have figured out how to play together and you are seeing the results of it.”

Free T-shirts at Harlem

If finishing 11-1 in its last 12 games isn't enough to create excitement about Harlem's girls basketball team, the No. 4-seeded Huskies are giving away free T-shirts to the first 50 students for Tuesday's 7 p.m. Class 4A Harlem Regional semifinal game against No. 5 seed DeKalb.

Free Throws for Heroes

Auburn boys basketball players stayed a little later after practice Monday shooting free throws to raise money for military families. Coach Bryan Ott is on the board of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, which supports The Charity Stripe's Free Throws for Heroes program. Players either get pledges for each free throw they make out of 100 or a flat donation.

"Normally we would have done it earlier in the year, but this was kind of a last-minute thing," Ott said. "We did it for several years in a row but the last three years we had not participated for one reason or another. I felt bad about it. The last time we did it, we raised quite a bit. I walked into the Hinsdale Central tournament with $300 in cash. We can't do it that way any more. I turn it into our office and they will turn around and write a check to The Charity Stripe."

Matt Trowbridge: 815-987-1383; mtrowbridge@rrstar.com; @matttrowbridge