Hersey tops St. Viator
When Hersey's girls basketball team lost to Glenbrook South on Saturday, it left the Huskies 1 game shy of the program's longest winning streak since coach Mary Fendley took over in 1998.
“We were kind of bummed we didn't make it 13 in a row,” said Huskies senior forward Eileen Zydek. “But that's OK. We've just got to get back on track from here on out.”
The Huskies hope they started a new extended streak with Monday's 61-33 victory over visiting St. Viator in the final round of pool play of the Season's End tourney.
Hersey (17-4) will face Oak Park-River Forest for the title next Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Fenton High School.
“We were upset about the loss at Glenbrook South,” said Huskies senior guard Megan Rogowski, who tossed in a game-high 21 points against the Lions. “But it's not the end of the world. We wanted to get back on the winning track in this game so we are prepared for Rolling Meadows (in a Friday night conference game).”
The Huskies were prepared at the start Monday and led 16-5 when senior forward Stefanie Mueller (11 points, 8 rebounds) completed a 3-point play with 2:09 left in the first quarter.
But the Lions (11-10), who led 3-0 on a driving bank by junior Lauren Rooney and free throw by Katie Gavin, clawed back into the game.
They trailed 16-12 following a driving layup by Gavin and steal and layup by Taylor Skala to start the second quarter.
“They gave us a scare there but we knew we just had to pick it up again defensively,” Rogowski said. “Coach Fendley and (Julia) Barthel talked us through it during a timeout.”
Whatever the coaches said, it worked like a charm because Hersey came back on the floor and produced an 18-3 run.
Rogowski (3 assists) had 2 of her 3-pointers during the run.
She finished the half by making a nifty pass to junior Maggie Hogen, who tossed in a 14-foot swish at the buzzer for a 38-17 advantage.
Hogen finished with 12 points and 16 rebounds, 11 in the first half.
“Maggie's rebounding was great,” Fendley said. “And Megan (Rogowski) has learned to adjust to her injury (broken left pinkie) the last few games. We had some defensive lapses but then we got back on track. If we learned from the last lost, then it's OK.”
Rogowski, Zydek and teammate Jen Hall (7 points, one 3-pointer) each had 2 steals.
Skala led St. Viator (11-10) with 10 points while Gavin added 9.
“We just fell apart,” Skala said. “We need to show more concentration on offense and more patience. Our defensive help line must be stronger and we need better communication.”
The Lions will refocus at practice today and prepare for an East Suburban Conference game in its Cahill Gymnasium on Wednesday against Carmel.
“Hersey is very good and now we have to come back for a big game against Carmel,” said Lions coach Paul Bjerkness. “Hersey did a nice job and Rogowski is a very good player. They diced us. Good luck to them the rest of the season.”
Rolling Meadows 49, Fenton 43: Rolling Meadows (15-6) finished at 2-1 in the pool play of the Season's End as freshman Jennifer Vliet (10 points), sophomore Morgan Keller (9), senior Maddie Conlin (8) and junior Amanda Gunn (8) led the way on the Fenton floor.
Maine West 63, Plainfield North 59: With her team trailing 38-28 at half, Maine West freshman forward Brittany Collins scored the first 9 points of the second half and finished with a career-high 27 points and 7 rebounds in the McDonald's Shootout at Willowbrook High School.
Junior point guard Amanda Hoye followed Collins' big streak with a bucket to complete an 11-0 run and give West a 39-38 lead.
Hoye finished with 14 points, including 4 clutch free throws in the final five seconds.
Senior forward Katherine Kusner produced her best game of the season, scoring 11 points with 4 rebounds.
“We just did a better job in the second half,” said Warriors coach Derril Kipp. “We got the ball inside and ran some more plays.”
Megan John chipped in 5 points and Carly Martin 4 for the Warriors (7-14).