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Wheeling wins up-and-down battle with Vernon Hills

If you were to just watch the second quarter of Monday's nonconference girls basketball game at Wheeling, you might have a difficult time guessing the final outcome.

Visiting Vernon Hills outscored the Wildcats 18-3, as Cougars 6-foot sophomore standout Kayla Caudle scored all of her team-high 14 points in the second quarter.

But the Wildcats regrouped in the second half.

They received 11 of senior Shannon Kennedy's 13 points along with 8 from 6-foot sophomore Nosa Igiehon and 7 from 5-10 senior Melissa Claver to rally from a 12-point deficit en route to a 45-38 triumph.

"We just needed to step up and play as a team in the second half," said Claver, who finished with 12 points. "We needed a mindset of physical toughness and we needed to rearrange our focus execution- wise."

The Wildcats (5-4) did exactly that, using an 18-0 run to grab a 35-29 lead on Kennedy's 3-pointer with under five minutes left in the game.

The Wildcats limited the Cougars to a pair of 2-point field goals in the final 20 minutes of the game in addition to two 3-pointers and 3 free throws.

"Obviously, we are a short team and we need to help each other by using our speed," said Kennedy, who twice took passes from her longtime teammate Claver (since feeder basketball in the fifth grade) and scored on layups in the fourth quarter. "Our coach (Matt Weber) told us if we could keep full court pressure on them that would help keep (Caudle) from being able to score as much, and Nosa (Igiehon) did a god job defending her."

"Give Nosa all the credit," Claver said. "She used her athleticism and length to her advantage."

Igiehon pulled down 15 rebounds for the Wildcats, who started the third-quarter rally with Kennedy's 15 footer that got them to within 29-19.

A steal and layup by Igiehon, a put back by Kennedy, another steal and layup by Igiehon and Claver's put back of her own miss made it 29-28 with 2:25 left in the third quarter.

The Wildcats took the lead for good following a steal by senior Kourtney Schuetz which led to Claver's sweeping move in the lane. Claver converted a left-handed scoop shot for a 30-29 advantage with 6:40 left in the game.

"Kudos to Matt (Weber, Wheeling coach)," said Vernon Hills coach Paul Brettner, who led the Cougars to second-place finishes in the 2012 and 2013 Class 3A state tournaments. "He made a great adjustment and we didn't recover.

"They collapsed on (Caudle) and we couldn't handle their pressure."

Caudle missed some time in the third quarter when she took a hit on the head but returned late in the third quarter. Senior forward Becky Bahlmann also missed time with foul trouble.

"You always want to overcome adversity," Brettner said. "We need to learn how to win these kind of games. They keyed in on Kayla and in that case we need other kids to step up."

Senior Katie Burrows added 6 points for the Cougars (3-5) while Sophia Lehocky was 4-of-4 from the free throw line.

Wheeling also started out strong in the first half, taking an 8-3 lead on Igiehon's putback.

"At the start of the first and second halves, Wheeling was ready to play," Brettner said. "Vernon Hills was not. And that is my fault."

The Cougars come right back with a Central Suburban North game tonight (Highland Park) and another one (Maine West) on Saturday.

"There's no time to rest," Brettner said. " We need to come back with more energy." Weber liked the energy he saw from his team in the second half.

"And I thought our mindset was much better," he said. "I thought all five of our starters worked together and for one common goal. If we do that all the time, we will be a good team.

"Credit Vernon Hills. They did a great adjusting and going with their 1-2-2 and 3-2 zone on us. But I was really proud seeing how our girls handled the adversity (falling behind) and adjusted to come back."

Igiehon scored 4 of her 5 field goals in the second half.

"She did a great job going to the baseline, attacking the basket and getting inside," Weber said. "In the second half, Nosa did a great job defensively using her strengths to frustrate her (Caudle)."

Images: Wheeling vs. Vernon Hills, girls basketball

  Wheeling's Nosa Igiehon (14) blocks the shot of Vernon Hills' Kylie Bunning on Monday night at Wheeling. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Wheeling's Melissa Claver, right, drives on Vernon Hills' Kylie Bunning on Monday night at Wheeling. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Wheeling's Nansy Velev, right, drives on Vernon Hills' Kayla Caudle on Monday night at Wheeling. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Vernon Hills' Kylie Bunning, left, drives on Wheeling's Morgan Collar on Monday night at Wheeling. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Wheeling's Kourtney Schuetz, left, passes around Vernon Hills' Emma Pappano on Monday night at Wheeling. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Vernon Hills' Katie Burrows, left, drives on Wheeling's Nosa Igiehon on Monday night at Wheeling. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Vernon Hills' Kayla Caudle, right, drives past Wheeling's Chloe Drozdz on Monday night at Wheeling. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
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