Wrap: Defense does the job again for Corsairs
Forty is the magic number for the Carmel girls basketball team.
Before each game, the team has a goal to hold its opponent to under 40 points.
Offensively, Carmel wants to hit that 40-point plateau. The formula has generally worked in the past for Carmel and it was that same remedy that the host Corsairs used against cross-town rival Libertyville on Thursday night.
Carmel held the Wildcats to only 10 field goals and kept Libertyville under the magical 40-point mark. Offensively, the Corsairs passed the 40-point mark and the winning formula was just that for the Corsairs in a 41-28 nonconference victory.
"To hold a team to under 40 points is a good feeling," said Carmel senior Aubrey Simmons. "We know that our defense can help us win games and help our offense get going too."
Simmons was key down the stretch for Carmel (10-8). Her perfect 6-for-6 from the line in the last 1:43 of the fourth quarter helped the Corsairs hold off a hard charge from the Wildcats.
Libertyville (10-11) scored just 14 points through three quarters, but caught fire in the fourth thanks to a pair of 3-pointers from Dana Eriksen and a 3-point-play from Megan White. The baskets by Eriksen and White sparked an 8-0 run that pulled the Wildcats within 31-22 with 3:19 to play.
"At times, offense has been a struggle for us," said Wildcats coach Kathie Swanson. "We had just four points each in the second and third quarters and if you have that in a varsity game you are in big trouble."
The Corsairs broke out to a comfortable lead in the third quarter thanks to a 13-0 run that extended from the middle part of the second quarter to the 3:35 mark of the third. During the stretch, Carmel took a 10-10 tie and turned it into a 23-10 rout.
"Once we got our defense going, it started to lead to fast breaks for us on offense and we just had more energy,' said Simmons, one of three Corsairs in double figures with 10 points. Tiffany Hendrickson was hot early and finished with 10 points. Caitlin Hendricks led all scorers with 13 points, including 8 of her team's dozen in the fourth quarter.
"We feel like if we can hold a team to under 40, score over 40 and get three in double figures we will win a lot of games," said Corsairs coach John Ryan. "I thought the girls did a nice job of holding (Libertyville) under 40 points."
Casey Hopper led the Wildcats with 8 points.
-- Jeff Newton
Wauconda 47, CL Central 34: Lauren Mead led all scorers with 23 points, as the host Bulldogs won the nonconference game.
Kristin Brown added 9 for Wauconda (8-8), which has won back-to-back games for the first time in nearly a month.
Vernon Hills 41, ME 40 (OT): Amy Burton scored 17 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, and Vernon Hills outscored Maine East 6-5 in overtime to win the nonconference game.
Jessie Schwartz had 10 rebounds for Vernon Hills (8-12). Brianna Skeens had 7 rebounds and 3 assists, and her 3-pointer with 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter forced OT.
Lauren Bryant hauled down 8 rebounds for the Cougars, and Kelly Nagle contributed 5 rebounds, 4 points (including 2 in OT), 2 assists and 2 steals.
Zion-Benton 62, Antioch 53: Eastern Michigan-bound Brittany Simmons scored 27 points to lead the Zee-Bees to the North Suburban Conference crossover win.
Antioch fell to 8-10 with its second straight loss.
CL South 46, Grayslake N. 45: Lauren Erickson had team bests of 12 points and 8 rebounds for the host Knights.
Elizabeth Phillips had 7 points and 7 rebounds for Grayslake North (8-9). Hilary Kuhl also scored 7 points.
Jacobs 58, Grayslake C. 44: Rachel Culp scored 10 points, including two 3-pointers, for the Rams.
Laura Stark and Erin Claxton added 9 and 8 points, respectively, for Grayslake Central (4-13).