Hawks finally finish Grens

It seemed like every time host Hoffman Estates ran up big leads on Elk Grove, the Grenadiers were there to come right back.

The Hawks produced runs in the second and third quarters to go up by as much as 13 points.

But it was the final rally of the game -- an 11-2 spurt over the last three minutes -- that turned a tie game into a 63-54 Mid-Suburban League crossover win for Hoffman Estates (14-5).

"I think we won ugly," said Hoffman girls basketball coach Mike Nocella, whose team has won seven straight. "We did some good things, but not consistently. We got careless a couple of times. We have to protect the ball a little more."

Many Hawks stepped up throughout the game when needed.

Megan Fischer was solid early with a pair of 3-pointers and again later with 4-of-4 free-throw shooting to lead her team with 23 points.

"It was sloppy to say the least," Fischer said. "We started off under control. We got over confident in the second half, got lazy and let it go."

When Fischer cooled in the third, Missy Douglas stepped up with 10 of her 15 points. Down the stretch, Jada Stotts got going by scoring 6 of her 8 in the fourth. Carol King spread out 9 more.

"We're playing better," Fischer said. "We have had a hard time once (we've gotten) a big lead. We need to be more consistent. We can't afford to get 10-point leads and then let them slide."

The Grenadiers never really let a deficit get to them. Four times they got down and four times they got back to within a basket.

After 6 straight points by Ashley Capotosto (game-high 24 points) with 3:09 left to play, the Grens (11-8) tied the game at 52-52.

"We did fine," said assistant Elk Grove coach Dan Crivellone, who was filling in for head coach Jim Wills, who was out sick. "We did everything that we wanted to do. I can't complain."

Kristy Ottosen and Krystina Leazer added 9 points apiece for the Grenadiers.

"Hoffman is an excellent team -- we played them 100-percent better than the last time we played them," added Crivellone of an earlier tournament loss. "We don't quit. They played their hearts out. They're just going to have to learn how to win these games."