Jakaitis' big night leads St. Charles N. past Glenbard S.

Claire Jakaitis' second half consisted of many different aspects to a girls basketball game.

The St. Charles North senior had everything from steals, to defensive rebounds, a gorgeous assist out of the high post and 16 critical points.

The North Stars scored the first 10 points of the second half to take their first lead of their nonconference game against Glenbard South and never trailed again in a 50-41 victory.

St. Charles North limited the Raiders to 15 second-half points Tuesday night in Glen Ellyn.

"Coach (Sean Masoncup) really got on us at halftime," Jakaitis said.

"We had a very one-sided conversation in the locker room," Masoncup confirmed.

Trailing 30-26 at the intermission, the North Stars (18-10) received 3-pointers from Kyla Helsel and Samantha Sample.

Jakaitis' twin field goals sandwiching the 3-pointers made it a 10-0 run for the North Stars.

"We were ready to go and play our game," Jakaitis said. "My teammates were getting me the ball in the right spots. They were giving me the right passes."

Jakaitis feasted on the interior of the undersized Raiders' front line, and her game-high 24 points was also the product of converting all 8 of her free-throw attempts.

The game was still in the balance until well into the fourth quarter, however, as Glenbard South had a remedy in guard Sarah Cohen.

The sophomore pumped in four of the Raiders' five 3-pointers in scoring a team-high 17 points. Cohen, who had a circus-like 3-point play to end the first half, had a 3-pointer that forged the last tie of the contest late in the first third quarter. The final Cohen 3-pointer of the game brought the Raiders (15-10) within 38-37 early in the fourth quarter.

"My teammates drove in and helped me get open," Cohen said.

But the North Stars held Glenbard South to 4 points the rest of the way while gradually expanding their lead.

The final score was the North Stars' largest cushion of the night.

The opening of the second half was highlighted by both coaches.

"I think the main factor was our defensive intensity from the first half to the second half," Masoncup said. "The first three minutes we really put it to them in the third quarter. We started doing what we usually do: imposing our will."

"(St. Charles North) came out and did a great job of being aggressive," Glenbard South coach Morgan Kasperek said. "We had some mistakes that we didn't have in the first half."

Eight different players scored for St. Charles North as Helsel was the second-leading scorer with 7 points.

Conversely, Glenbard South had only eight players in uniform, six of whom played.

"We're holding our own and doing well with what we have," Cohen said. "We're just trying our best."

Mady Carli added 10 points for Glenbard South.