Waubonsie overtakes Mustangs
Waubonsie Valley found itself in unfamiliar waters Tuesday night against Downers Grove South.
The Warriors, who have won every girls basketball game by double digits this season, found themselves playing catchup for most of three quarters before pulling away to win 55-47.
"This win is a good one for us because it proved to us that we can win tight ballgames," Waubonsie Valley forward Danielle Brown said. "It shows that we can overcome adversity and pull through. Next time we play in a tough game we can look back at this experience and hopefully take a few things from it and help us win the next time, too."
Brown was one of the reasons the Warriors pulled away in the second half.
In the decisive third quarter with the Mustangs (5-5) leading 29-24, the Warriors went on a 15-2 run to open the game up. Brown scored 11 of her game-high 23 points in the third quarter, and 9 of those 11 came during that run.
Downers South coach Mike McGinnis said he has seen Waubonsie Valley play many times and he knows the Warriors have several players who can score in bunches.
"All five people on the floor can score at any time. That is one thing that makes them tough," McGinnis said. "With that run, you can't allow that to happen against a good team like them. We tried to play through it but we couldn't. You can't take three minutes off against a team that can score in spurts. That's what hurt us."
Brown had a simple answer about her scoring outburst.
"I guess it was just my turn; I'll take it, though," she said with a laugh. "We got frustrated early on because our shots weren't falling, but we knew they eventually would. They did."
The Warriors also excelled at another important aspect of the game -- free-throw shooting. Waubonsie Valley sank 20 of 28 free throws and went an impressive 16 of 20 in the second half to help improve its record to 10-0.
"This is the first time in a long time that we have started 10-0," Waubonsie Valley coach Kris Kalivas said. "I have been here for nine years and this is the first time we have done this in my time here. I am not sure when the last time we have done this. It has been a while."
Lauren Brownridge, Rachel Bostick and Jessica Morice each scored 8 points in the win.
The Mustangs' Annie Brashaw scored a team-high 13 points while Lauren Lisauskas chipped in with 12 points in the loss.
Though the Warriors won the game, they lost one of their top players. On the opening possession of the game, Emily Collins went down contesting a shot and did not return.
"It hurt having her go down in the opening seconds of the game," Kalivas said. "We are not sure how long she will be out, but it doesn't look good right now."
-- Jason Watt
Hinsdale South 62, Addison Trail 41:ŒToo many second chances by Hinsdale South left the Addison Trail girls basketball team with little chance of knocking off the host Hornets on Tuesday night in Darian.
Even with 6-foot-1 center Joanna Giampoli slowed by foul trouble most of the night, Hinsdale South still managed to own the boards 38-21, including 15 on the offensive end. Senior Chloe Harris seemed to position her 5-foot-7 frame in just the right places all night long, coming away with a game-high 20 points and 9 rebounds to guide the Hornets (7-4, 4-1) to a 62-41 West Suburban Gold triumph.
"Our coach emphasized that today," said Harris, who had 5 offensive rebounds while scoring 16 points in the first half. "Rebounds are not just going to fall in your lap. You have to box out. We work hard because we know we've got to outrebound the other teams."
The Blazers (2-10, 0-4) played a solid second half -- and even outscored Hinsdale South 12-10 in the third quarter -- but just couldn't come all the way back from a 35-18 halftime deficit. After a driving layup by Jenn Schulmeister pulled Addison Trail to within 13-9 late in the first quarter, the Hornets answered with a basket by Harris and a 3-pointer from Jackie Alyinovich at the buzzer.
With Harris scoring on a pair of putbacks and guard Jessica Carlson adding a 3-pointer and a steal and a fastbreak bucket, the Hornets outscored the Blazers 17-9 in the second quarter to build its 17-point lead at the break.
"That's been the story of the last three games," said Blazers coach Rob Schader. "We've gotten down big each time and then we cut it down."
With Schulmeister, who finished with 14 points and 7 boards, and Jasmine Little playing well, the Blazers used a 14-3 run to close to within 45-34 with 6:17 left to play. But Hinsdale South closed out the game from there, thanks in part to more second-chance scores from Harris and Giampoli.
Giampoli tallied all 14 of her points in the second half and the Hornets also picked up 8 points and 6 rebounds from Anjylla Foster off the bench to help finish off the Blazers.
"We showed our depth today," Hinsdale South coach Brenda Whitesell said. "It seemed like with Joanna that every time she turned around she got a foul. But I thought Jessica (Carlson) set the tone with her defense and Chloe did a great job. We've been scoring a lot on offensive rebounds."
Carlson came away with 5 steals, while Alyinovich added a pair of 3-pointers for the Hornets. Mercedes Rallings had 3 steals for the Blazers.
-- Stan Goff