During practice, junior point guard Lelanie Posada works on a variety of shots for St. Charles North, but she takes particular pride in mapping out late-quarter situations.
Making a shot at or near the buzzer means not only points to Posada but also turns the tide as far as momentum and energy for her team. And she’s always ready for that moment.
Lo and behold, Posada ended the first and second quarters Thursday night with buzzer-beaters.
“It definitely brought everyone up,” she said. “It boosted everyone’s confidence, and we were ready to go after that.”
That 3-pointer by Posada at the halftime buzzer created a 10-point lead for the visiting North Stars, who ended up having to hang on for a 43-36 DuKane Conference victory over Geneva.
Posada led all scorers with 15 points for St. Charles North (6-0, 2-0). Bronwyn How added nine points. Keira McCann paced Geneva (0-6, 0-2) with 12 points.
St. Charles North’s Lelanie Posada (30) looks for an opening against Geneva during a DuKane Conference game in Geneva on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News)
The 5-foot-6 Posada is so confident in pressure situations that it’s become almost routine.
“She does it all the time in practice,” St. Charles North coach Grant Oler said of Posada. “A couple of the girls were like, ‘We knew it was going in.’ Good for her. She’s a special kid.”
Oler is in his first season as head coach, but he served as an assistant to Mike Tomczak for nine years. He has witnessed Posada mature in her second season as the starting point guard.
“We’re seeing her evolution form,” Oler said of Posada. “Her voice has become so much more present in practice and on the bus and everywhere. She’s a funny kid. She has ideas. She thinks the game. She’s a basketball mind. It’s very good to see her grow.”
St. Charles North’s Lelanie Posada (30) takes a shot from the corner against Geneva during a DuKane Conference game in Geneva on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News)
Posada confirmed she certainly feels a difference in her leadership in her second varsity go-round. It was a big part of her focus entering the season.
“It’s something I’ve definitely been trying to work on, trying to encourage everyone,” Posada said. “It gave me some more experience last year. We have basically the same team, so it’s nice to see some of the same faces.
“I got to know them better, where they need the ball, what they’re good at and where they struggle.”
The chemistry paid off in the third quarter. Her work getting How the ball in the post kept the North Stars afloat when Geneva’s defense clamped down.
St. Charles North’s Lelanie Posada (30) watches her shot go into the basket against Geneva during a DuKane Conference game in Geneva on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News)
How scored all six points of the quarter as St. Charles North increased its lead by one point.
“They work so hard to find something that’s going to work for them and when they find it, they’re doing to drill down on it,” Oler said. “In that third quarter, we really started to go inside.
“Bronwyn and Riley (Barber) were just so willing to play down there.”
Geneva wouldn’t go away, however. The Vikings cut the lead to 36-30 in the fourth quarter on a pair of 3-pointers by McCann. The North Stars did just enough to hold them at bay, however.
“We keep telling our kids we’re right there,” Geneva coach Sarah Meadows said. “We’re so close. But I’m sick of saying that to be honest. When are we going to get over the hump?
“I’m super proud of our kids. I thought our effort was way better than it has been. I thought we were tough in moments.”
St. Charles North’s Lelanie Posada (30) looks for an opening around Geneva’s Suzanne Colin (31) during a DuKane Conference game in Geneva on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News)
Posada answered those 3-pointers with a nifty move and finger-roll layup before hitting the ensuing free throw. That’s another big thing to her.
“I try to work on different things and put myself in different positions because I know it won’t always be perfect,” Posada said. “I just mess around in practice.”
Oler, meanwhile, is glad to have her as one of his building blocks.
“She works really hard at what she does and it shows,” Oler said of Posada. “We’re just lucky to be with her. She’s one piece of a much larger puzzle that is who we are.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
