Downers Grove North makes scoring count against Glenbard West

Julia Kramper didn't make a basket Monday night.

Neither did Quinn Stephens.

But the Downers Grove North sophomores were money when and where it mattered most.

Kramper and Stephens sank both ends of 1-and-1 situations down the stretch to help the host Trojans beat Glenbard West 31-26 in West Suburban Conference Silver Division girls basketball action in Downers Grove.

Kramper's free throws came with 1:22 remaining and extended Downers North's lead to 27-24. They were her only points of the game.

"It was (a lot of) pressure and I was really nervous, but in the end I had to calm myself and I focused on the basket," Kramper said. "I just knew that we needed it and I focused and put them in."

Caroline Reedy, who led all scorers with 14 points, answered by scoring on a baseline drive to pull Glenbard West (6-4, 2-2) within a point with 1:01 left.

But Stephens, a reserve forward who had 3 points, made two free throws with 41.5 seconds to go.

"Kramper, I trust the ball in her hands," Downers North coach Stephan Bolt said. "She does a good job handling it and usually makes good decisions.

"I thought Quinn did a great job too. She came in as a (defender) and a rebounder, more or less. She got fouled and down the stretch, (shot) pressure free throws. She knocked them down, which was huge."

Any kind of score was huge on a night in which both teams were colder than the weather on offense. The Hilltoppers shot 9 for 39 while the Trojans (4-5, 1-3) were 9 for 38.

The difference came at the line, where the Trojans made 8 of 11 and the Hilltoppers 3 of 8. Hannah Ilyavi, who led the Trojans with 11 points, capped the scoring by making two foul shots with 14.9 seconds left, while Glenbard West had two turnovers and an air ball in the final minute.

"Neither team set the world on fire tonight on the offensive end," Glenbard West coach Karen Persinger said. "I felt we didn't take very good care of the basketball.

"You hold a team to 10 points in the second half, you'd think you would be in good shape to win. They just seem to have our number and I can't quite put my finger on it."

Indeed, the Trojans have now beaten the Hilltoppers twice, giving up an average of 27 points. Only three players scored for Glenbard West, which got 6 points each from Cameron Kruse and Samantha Skirvin.

Downers North made only two baskets after halftime, both by junior Julie Pospisilova, who finished with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 steals and 3 assists.

"It was not the best night for offense, but our defense was for the most part really solid," Kramper said. "That gave us support when the shots weren't falling.

"We know that they're good shooters, so we made sure we're closing out to the shooters."