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Trinity's defense even stingier than Glenbard South's

Glenbard South played defense like the 1986 Bears Thursday against Trinity. Unfortunately, the Raiders' offense looked a lot like the 2016 version.

"If we were a football team our defense would be great," Glenbard South coach Morgan Kasperek said. "We just need Peyton Manning's offense."

The Raiders shook off a nearly 12-minute scoreless drought during which they fell behind 23-11 to pull within 25-21 with 2:19 remaining before the visitors made six consecutive free throws in the final 52.1 to close out a 31-23 nonconference win in Glen Ellyn.

The loss ended the Raiders' 10-game winning streak.

Twenty-six turnovers contributed to the Raiders' demise.

"We really struggled with the pressure of their trap," Kasperek said. "We need to do a better job when the other team is trapping to get open and help our guards. We knew that was coming, but we're so used to Sarah (Cohen) being able to bring the ball up the floor by herself. We have to do a better job recognizing what's going on.

"We talked about that at halftime and it did get a little better in the second half," the coach added.

Glenbard South (16-5) led 8-2 after eight minutes, but the Blazers went on a 15-3 run in the second quarter to lead 17-11 at halftime. Although the Raiders were stingy on the defensive end, they did not score in the third quarter until Cohen's basket to beat the buzzer trimmed the deficit to 23-13.

Back-to-back drives to the basket by sophomore Maggie Bair pulled the Raiders within four points with a little more than two minutes remaining. But Trinity freshman Zyerra Stafford cemented the win by converting consecutive bonus free-throw opportunities.

"We played a real solid basketball game on one end of the floor, and that's great that we can play good defense," Kasperek said. "But we have to step it up and play great offense, too.

"Trinity is one the best schools in Class 4A," she added. "They're a real solid program and that's what we're striving to be. I want to play the best teams all the time and see where our holes are, and we found them tonight."

Just three players scored for Glenbard South led by Bair's 11 points and 8 rebounds. Cohen added 10 points and Mady Carli had a basket.

Six-foot-2 junior Alex Fanning and reserve Emma Hayes both had 8 points and Stafford added 6 points for Trinity (14-6).

"We did some good things," said Trinity coach Mike Valente, who started two freshmen and a pair of juniors. "I liked our energy. We just have to put the ball the basket a little bit better. But they played great defense. They were physical. I thought we got little tired in the second half and let them back in it."

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