Batavia Rallies in Second Half to Avoid Upset Against DeKalb

Senior Ali Thomas scores 10 of her 12 points in the second half to lead Bulldogs to 39-37 victory

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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In a close matchup, the No. 6 Batavia Bulldogs overcame an early deficit to defeat the No. 11 DeKalb Barbs 39-37 in a regional semifinal game. Senior forward Ali Thomas scored 10 of her game-high 12 points in the second half, including the go-ahead free throws in the final minute, to help the Bulldogs avoid the upset.

Why it matters

The win extends Batavia's regional title streak to six years as they look to capture another championship. DeKalb, the 11-seed, put up a strong fight and nearly pulled off the upset, showing the parity in the tournament field.

The details

After trailing 23-15 at halftime, Batavia turned up the defensive pressure in the second half, using a full-court press led by senior captains Eva Holzl and Payton Haslett. This allowed the Bulldogs to climb back into the game, taking a 27-26 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Thomas then hit the go-ahead free throws with 58.3 seconds left to give Batavia the victory.

  • Batavia trailed DeKalb 23-15 at halftime.
  • Batavia took a 27-26 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The players

Ali Thomas

A 6-foot senior forward for Batavia who scored a game-high 12 points, including 10 in the second half to lead the Bulldogs' comeback.

Kevin Jensen

The head coach of the Batavia Bulldogs, who motivated Thomas to step up in the second half.

Angela Gary

The leading scorer for DeKalb with 8 points and 11 rebounds in her final high school game.

Brad Bjelk

The head coach of the DeKalb Barbs, who was proud of his team's effort despite the narrow defeat.

Addie Schilb

A senior for St. Charles East who scored 24 points, including her 1,000th career point, in the Saints' 55-28 win over West Chicago.

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What they’re saying

“It made me think that this could be my last time, and I'm going to show them that I deserve to be on this court for one more game.”

— Ali Thomas, Batavia Senior (shawlocal.com)

“She came up huge once again for us.”

— Kevin Jensen, Batavia Head Coach (shawlocal.com)

“I thought that it was going in. That last shot doesn't sum up the game though. There were plenty of opportunities that we could've capitalized on, especially in the smaller details. If we buttoned those details up, that last shot wouldn't have been an issue.”

— Brad Bjelk, DeKalb Head Coach (shawlocal.com)

What’s next

The Batavia Bulldogs will face the No. 3 St. Charles East Saints in the Class 4A regional final on Thursday. Batavia is looking to extend its regional title streak to six years.

The takeaway

This game showcased the parity in the high school basketball tournament, with the 11-seed DeKalb Barbs nearly pulling off the upset over the 6-seed Batavia Bulldogs. Batavia's senior leadership and second-half adjustments were ultimately the difference, as they look to continue their regional dominance against a tough St. Charles East squad.