Boothe nets 24 in last regular-season home game

Saturday afternoon at Warren was a time for the fans and coaches of the Blue Devils girls basketball team to bid farewell to the most successful senior class in the history of the program.

Prior to the Blue Devils' final regular-season home game, coach John Stanczykiewicz -- who was also recognized for winning his 200th game last month, said goodbye to eight seniors, including one of the most decorated players in Warren history, Stanford-bound senior Sarah Boothe.

Though she likely has two more home games left, as the Devils will host a Class 4A regional in 10 days, Boothe gave one final command performance, and she had plenty of help from all of her fellow seniors.

Boothe hit for 14 of her game-high 24 points in the second half, and Warren held visiting Mundelein to just 15 second-half points in a 61-33 win.

The 2007-08 North Suburban Conference Lake champions completed a 12-0 run through the division while improving to 24-2 overall.

Warren will face Prairie Division champion Grant in Fox Lake on Wednesday night for the NSC crown.

"I have been looking forward to going to Stanford next year, so I haven't had much time to think about saying goodbye," Boothe said. "We still have dreams as a team of going back downstate just like freshman year."

Before Boothe and the Devils could celebrate senior day, they had to dispatch the pesky Mustangs.

Warren held just a 31-18 halftime lead and the thoughts of Mundelein (19-7, 6-5) coming back and spoiling the day was all the motivation Boothe and the Devils needed.

"Coach (Stanczykiewicz) told us to pick up the intensity and reminded us that Mundelein is a good team and can get back into the game," Boothe said.

Warren took the coach's words to heart to open the third quarter.

The Blue Devils continued their brief spurt that ended the first half with layups from Boothe, Lory Shaw (11 points) and senior Kristin Mierzejewski (7 points).

The lead, thanks to the 12-0 run, went to 37-18.

"It was hard because you could see the defeated look in the eyes of the kids," said Mustangs coach Brian Evans. "It's hard for me when we coaches believe in the kids and the kids lose faith in themselves."

Warren used a similar run to open the fourth quarter when the lead went over 20 points for the first time.

"I think every coach dreams of having a group of kids that are so unselfish like these girls are," Stanczykiewicz said. "Then for a coach to have a player like Sarah -- that is something that happens maybe once in a lifetime, maybe."

-- Jeff Newton

Grayslake Central 56, Grayslake North 49: For Grayslake Central senior center Erin Claxton, time moved by slower this week than last class before summer vacation.

"It felt like Saturday would never come," Claxton said.

What was so significant about Saturday?

It was Senior Night and a chance to avenge a loss earlier this season to archrival Grayslake North.

Claxton and the Rams made it a night to remember.

Claxton scored a team-high 13 points, and the Rams enjoyed a huge disparity at the free-throw line in their 56-49 Fox Valley Conference Fox Division victory.

The Rams were 22 of 39 at the line. Grayslake North was 6 of 6 and did not shoot its first free-throw until the fourth quarter.

Grayslake Central was in the bonus for more than half the game. In one trip down the court in the third quarter, the Knights committed 3 consecutive fouls.

"We were aggressive and they were aggressive," said Grayslake North coach Jim Sarver. "They shot more free throws than we did."

Although Grayslake Central (7-18, 3-5) struggled at the line, the Rams kept putting pressure on the Knights (10-14, 2-5) by attacking on offense.

"We tried to get to the basket because they were fouling us," senior guard Rachel Culp said.

Added coach Grayslake Central coach Roger Lass: "They got into foul trouble and it (hurt) what they wanted to do."

Claxton, a three-year varsity player, had one of her best games.

"She's more aggressive and is asking for the ball," Lass said.

Grayslake North was able to stay in the game thanks to five 3-pointers. The Knights played without sophomore Lauren Erikson, who hurt her ankle earlier this week. Sarver hopes Erikson can return sometime next week.

Senior Elizabeth Phillips came through with a game-high 16 points.

For the Rams, junior guard Megan LeBaron and Culp had 10 and 9 points, respectively. Junior guard Alison Metzger (5 points) played great on-the-ball defense and made sure nothing came easy for the Knights.

"We were very depressed when we lost to them," Culp said. "We had to come back and win."

-- Bob Gosman

Round Lake 56, Wauconda 37: Round Lake girls basketball coach Gary Edge was concerned how Tuesday's tough loss at Grant in an extremely physical game would affect his team Saturday at Wauconda.

"We talked about not wanting a Grant hangover," he said.

Round Lake responded by outscoring Wauconda 14-6 in the fourth quarter on its way to a 56-37 North Suburban Prairie Division victory.

Wauconda (11-12, 7-5) was more inspired than Round Lake (21-4, 9-3) in the second quarter and trimmed its deficit to 24-19.

"Coach was not happy," said Round Lake junior Labrenthia Murdock. "We made sure to pull it together after halftime."

Sure enough, the second half was all Murdock and the Panthers. Murdock finished with a game-high 23 points, thanks in part to shooting 8 of 9 from the free-throw line. She also had 7 assists and 4 steals.

"She made good decisions," Edge said. "This was one of her more complete games."

Particularly in the second half, Murdock was able to penetrate the lane and either finish or dish to an open teammate. Round Lake spread the floor with Murdock on top and let her create.

"That's what they want to do," said Wauconda coach Tim Bartusch. "We didn't get the help we needed, and she was able to dump the ball to their big girls. We lost (some) of our defensive assignments."

Wauconda center Lauren Mead had a team-high 16 points. She made 3 field goals and was 9 of 14 at the line.

"We played with tremendous energy in the first half and we did not come out with the same approach in the second half," Bartusch said.

Bartusch was happy with the way his team pounded the offensive glass.

"That's one of the first times all year where we did a pretty good job on the boards," he said.

What was a frustrating game for Round Lake senior guard Brittany Kucia (9 points) turned sweet in the end. She hit two of her three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.

Just before the halftime buzzer, Kucia's neck was accidentally stepped on in a mad scramble for the ball. In the third quarter, she was knocked to the ground while battling for a rebound.

"They were beating me up," Kucia said.

Kucia kept her composure and came back to bury those 3-pointers.

"I would never have been able to do that last year," she said. "I know that basketball is coming to an end and I want to make the best of it."

Edge liked the contributions he received from the entire team.

"Everyone at some point contributed to our success," he said.

-- Bob Gosman

Antioch 52, Lakes 39: The host Sequoits defeated their archrival for the second time this season in the North Suburban Prairie Division finale for both teams.

Andi Potkonjak led Antioch (12-13, 6-6) with 15 points. Christine Gaborek added 11 points and 5 rebounds. Katrina Holm chipped in 8 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 assists.

Lakes (0-27, 0-12) received 13 points from Alyssa Mol.

Grant 36, Vernon Hills 16: The visiting Bulldogs completed their second straight 12-0 season in the North Suburban Prairie Division.

Tori Ziegler and Autumn Gaylor scored 14 and 10 points, respectively, and Grant (24-3) held the Cougars to just 7 points through three quarters.

Amy Burton had 4 points for Vernon Hills (10-17, 5-7).

Carmel 41, St. Joseph 35: Only three players scored for the Corsairs, but that was enough for an East Suburban Catholic Conference road win.

Tiffany Hendrickson led the way with 23 points. Lauren Lehocky had 12 and Aubrey Simmons 6 for the Corsairs (14-11, 5-4), who have won three in a row.