Laura J. Gardner | The Journal Gazette
Elmhurst’s Liza Clemons, left, and Lacia Gorman met and became friends in the fifth grade while playing AAU basketball.
Formidable friends
Elmhurst fueled by junior stars
Greg Jones | High school sports editor
Physically, no one would ever get Elmhurst juniors Liza Clemons and Lacia Gorman confused with each other. Clemons is a 6-foot-2 athletic center, while Gorman is a 5-7 sharp-shooting point guard.
Emotionally, though, the Trojans’ two stars energize the defending Class 3A state champions.
If Elmhurst is going to defend its state championship, it will begin with the leadership and productivity of its two Big Ten-bound players.
“As we go, the team goes,” Gorman said. “As long as we have that connection, and if we can get over whatever obstacle is there, the team can overcome it. In the long run, it will help us out.”
Clemons, a Purdue recruit, leads the Trojans (15-4) with 17.5 points and 9.2 rebounds a game.
A Wisconsin recruit, Gorman averages 15.6 points and leads the team in assists (3.9) and steals (3.2).
“We realized that one of us has to step up,” Clemons said. “But instead of waiting for each other to step up, we both have stepped up, and we are leading the team together.
“It is easy for us because we are both doing it together, so she doesn’t feel like everybody is just listening to her. They are also listening to me.”
New duties
With the graduation of Lecretia Smith from last year’s state championship team, Clemons and Gorman have had to take on a leadership role for a younger, yet more experienced, team.
Still only juniors, leadership isn’t expected of them, but the two still have it in them to help in that area.
“It isn’t exactly easy because we are still juniors, and we have seniors on this team,” Gorman said of Cora Tatum, Eleni Barker, Danielle Roberson and Tiera Smith.
“We have to lead in a way that the seniors will respect us. We are not just going to go out and yell at everybody, we have to be constructive with it.”
Friendship formed
It all started in the fifth grade for Clemons and Gorman when the two became AAU teammates on the Lady Legit team.
A friendship was started.
“We have a relationship where we just automatically connect,” Gorman said.
“It kind of grew on us. Over the years, we have gotten closer and closer. I just hope it is something we can carry on even though eventually we will be playing against each other (in the Big Ten).
“It will be weird, but I will still be rooting for her and hoping she does the best she can, and I hope she will root for me and hope I do the best I can.”
Not only did the pair become friends, but they learned to play basketball together against some of the best players and teams in the nation.
“When we travel, we got a lot more competition than in high school, and you get to play players as athletic as you are and as tall as you are, and maybe even stronger,” Clemons said.
“It makes you a better person. When you feel like you can play to that level, then in high school you feel you can definitely play at this level because we are going to big tournaments.”
Double trouble
With the two playing vastly different roles, Elmhurst has a unique edge over other teams – a solid inside-outside blend.
“You don’t have a lot of teams with a point guard and post player that have known each other this long,” Clemons said.
“It is easy because we both know how each other works on the court, and we encourage each other because we know what to say when each other is down. It is great to play together.”
Two players can’t win a game, but it is a great start when those two are Big Ten-caliber players.
“Some teams can double down on Liza, but she can just kick it right back out to me so it is ‘what should we do? or ‘who should we double?’ ” Gorman said.
“It is harder for teams to play us and gives us a little more advantage.”
Another title?
Back-to-back 3A state titles for the Trojans would mean Clemons and Gorman will need to score and provide other intangibles.
And the reward would be great.
The season has had its shares of ups and down for Elmhurst, which didn’t win the SAC tournament and regular-season championships for the first time in three years.
“Everybody is trying to knock us off, and we have a target on our back,” Gorman said. “I don’t want it to be ‘oh Elmhurst, it was just a fluke last year.’
“We have to come out and prove we are the team we were last year, and even better then we were last year.
“Confidence is good for us, but at the same time we don’t want to get a big head about it because we got knocked off by teams we didn’t even believe could beat us.
“That really humbled us, and we know in the back of our heads that any team can beat us at anytime, and we have to continue to work hard every day.”
And what would another title mean to the prolific pair?
“It would mean a lot,” Clemons said.
“Back-to-back would be great.”