Pirates putting it all together

Palatine's girls basketball team started the season with a bumpy ride, losing its first four games.

But coach Ron Theberge and the Pirates have quickly started to smooth out the rough edges.

Junior Katelyn MacFabe certainly did her part on Tuesday night.

She scored a career-high 21 points and led the Pirates to their second straight victory with a 49-38 Mid-Suburban League crossover triumph over host Hersey in Arlington Heights.

"I'm proud of the way the girls have been playing," said Theberge. "But we're just scratching the surface."

Perhaps MacFabe offered a glimpse of the Pirates' future. She converted 9-of-11 field goals and pulled down 5 rebounds.

"She's improved a lot and she is much stronger," said Theberge of his 6-foot-3 center. "She's a hard worker and she's starting to reap some of the benefits."

"She was the difference tonight, no question."

Palatine (2-4) led 9-8 after one quarter but MacFabe proved to be the difference in the second quarter.

"We came out with a lot of confidence today," said MacFabe, who scored 7 points during a 10-0 run midway through the second quarter, leading the Pirates to a 23-19 halftime advantage.

"Katie showed her true colors down low," added point guard Sarah Iuorio.

Palatine didn't let up in the second half, extending its halftime advantage to 38-19 early in the fourth quarter after holding the Huskies scoreless in the third quarter.

"The third quarter we just turned it over too much," said Hersey coach Mary Fendley, whose team committed 5 miscues and went 0-for-10 from the field.

Senior guard Nikki Linares (8 points) converted a basket off a steal and contributed a 3-pointer and senior guard Megan Boescher (10 points) added 4 points during the Pirates' third-quarter surge.

"We didn't want to get too comfortable with the lead," MacFabe added. "The seniors pulled us together and told us to keep playing."

Hersey (0-5) made things interesting in the final quarter with junior Kelly Rogowski scoring 10 of her team-high 17 points, narrowing the Huskies' deficit to 43-36 with 1:39 remaining.

But Iuorio converted 4 of 6 free throws in the final 90 seconds to secure the victory.

"Senior leadership, that's what you have to do," said Iuorio as the Pirates were able to finish off the victory.

Freshman Megan Rogowski (10 points and 8 rebounds) and Sarah Stoltzner (5 points and 10 rebounds) contributed for a Huskies team that is still searching for its identity.

"It's the little things," said Fendley of Hersey's downfall. "We don't have it put together yet, but I think we will, and we'll keep trying."