IS IT THE SHOES?
Oak Forest senior Rodriguez wears different-colored sneakers for every game
At 5-foot-3, Oak Forest senior Sade Rodriguez isn’t always easy to spot when looking to make a pass.
But LSU recruit Janae Kent knows how to find her.
“I just look for those quick little legs,” Kent said. “And I can see her shoes.”
Rodriguez owns several pairs of the same shoe in different colors. She mixes two different colors for each game.
She was in the mix in a big way Thursday for the Bengals in a 49-37 South Suburban Conference crossover victory over visiting Argo.
Kent led the way with 25 points and 12 rebounds for Oak Forest (14-9, 9-1 SSC Blue).
Rodriguez added 12 points, while Olivia Baxa contributed eight points and Ambriel Anderson grabbed nine rebounds.
Apple Guerrero had 16 points and 13 rebounds for Argo (10-10, 6-5 SSC Red). Jada Madgett added 12 points.
Rodriguez came up huge for the Bengals when they needed a boost.
During the first three minutes of the third quarter, she had one layup, another drive for a score and an assist on a basket by Baxa. It erased a 28-23 halftime deficit and put Oak Forest in the lead.
Kent followed with a mini-burst for five points. Then, Kent spotted the shoes in the closing seconds of the third quarter, passing to Rodriguez for another layup that made it 36-31.
“Those were really big,” Rodriguez said. “I think when we scored and then Janae scored, that gave us the full momentum. The second half is always ours, whether we’re down or up going in.”
Rodriguez is averaging 10 points and three rebounds this season. She has been a key addition after leaving the team halfway through her junior season due to personal issues.
“I’m very happy,” Rodriguez said. “I’m glad I came back and I’m glad to help the team. We have a goal this season to make it far in the playoffs. I know I need to step up.”
Oak Forest coach Jeff Kelly calls Rodriguez a “powder keg” that can go off at any time — in a very good way.
“She can explode for some crazy points quickly,” Kelly said. “And it’s caused by her defense. Her defense turns into offense.
“Every team junks us because of Janae, but when you have somebody like Sade who can score on her own, it really breaks up their defensive plan and gives us the dub.”
On Tuesday, Rodriguez augmented Kent’s 17 points with 15 of her own in a 57-34 win over Hillcrest. She connected for three 3-pointers.
Against Argo, all of her points came in pairs, including a 4-for-4 effort at the free-throw line.
“I know that Olivia, and Janae and my teammates help to get me open,” Rodriguez said. “When the shot is there, I take it. I know that the shots that I take are big-time important.”
On one layup against Argo, Rodriguez wove in and around three Argo defenders — two who were several inches taller — and scored.
That one was pretty much a standard two-handed attempt. But she also has a move to the basket that has high entertainment value.
It starts with a lefthanded, low-to-the-ground dribble to the basket. Sometimes, there is a quick hand exchange before she finishes with a looping lefty hook.
“I do what I’ve got to do,”
Rodriguez said, laughing. “I just use my speed. Since I’m smaller than most of them, they have to reach down low. Then I just throw it up there and it goes in half the time.”
All the time, Kent is somewhere nearby looking on with a smile.
“She has stepped up a lot for us and I love it,” Kent said. “It’s nice to have someone score double digits, and be able to pass the ball.
“They can still doubleteam me, but if they leave her open, she’s going to knock it down.”