O’Brien: New Trier’s Jeannie Boehm helps West Team to McDonald’s All-American win

New Trier senior Jeannie Boehm spent the large majority of the McDonald’s All-American game waving that she was open and then not receiving the ball. That’s the curse of being a post player in a high school basketball all-star game. The star guards tend to dominate the play.

“I knew that going into it,” Boehm said. “It’s just part of the deal and you feel so lucky to be around such great players that it’s not that big of a deal.”

Boehm’s West Team beat the East Team 97-88 in overtime on Wednesday at the United Center. It’s the first time the girls game has gone to overtime.

“We wanted to win, we really wanted to win going in,” Boehm said. “We decided to play really scrappy defense, kind of unlike any other all-star game.”

Boehm played 14 minutes and shot 2-for-5 from the field. She finished with four points, four rebounds and two blocks.

Boehm first checked in to the game with just over four minutes to play in the first quarter. She made an instant impact and finished the quarter with a block and three boards.

Her first basket came on a post move with 3:30 to play in the second quarter. She scored on a rebound and put back with 5:01 to play in the fourth quarter.

Sabrina Ionescu, a guard from Orinda, CA, led the West Team with 25 points which set a new McDonald’s All-American girls game record. Ionescu, who is uncommitted, shot 8-for-20 and grabbed 10 rebounds.

“Sabrina played awesome,” Boehm said. “That was impressive.”

Boehm, who averaged 20 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks this season, isn’t used to playing second fiddle. She’s been the best player on every other team she’s ever played on.

“I don’t think I remember one other time [not being the team’s best player],” Boehm said. “So it’s been an interesting experience, it was weird not being in the game at crunch time, but that’s ok. It’s awesome to be here and I felt honored to be part of the team.”

Boehm college future is settled, she will play at Harvard next season.

“All along the way academics were important to me,” Boehm said. “I think Harvard really set itself apart with the coaches and the players and really how well I fit in to the program. It felt like home there.”

Boehm is a well-known basketball name on the North Shore. Jeannie has five brothers. Three of them were excellent basketball players at New Trier over the past few years and her younger brother Spencer is currently a highly-touted freshman.

“Spence is having so much fun watching me in this,” Boehm said. “He came to the Jam Fest [Monday at the Chicago Theatre] which was a lot of fun. I’m very excited to see how he is going to develop. He really wants it. I play against him one-on-one all the time. We’ll see how he develops.”