Knar, Mundelein Mustangs play big

Toni Knar is a big sister "by 45 seconds," she says proudly.

So while the Mundelein 5-foot-8 junior might not match up physically with her two growing brothers, including her twin, she seems to understand what it means to be a leader.

Now in her third season on varsity, Knar is off to a big start this basketball season. And so is her team.

Behind Knar's game-high 18 points (three 3-pointers), the Mustangs defeated Vernon Hills 76-44 Thursday night to improve to 3-0 in their annual Turkey Shootout.

Knar scored a career-best 20 points in Mundelein's season opener against Glenbrook North and had 15 against Prairie Ridge.

"Amazing assists," Knar explained of her hot start. "We're passing so well."

Coach Brian Evans isn't surprised by Knar's point production.

"I think Toni will be someone that teams might overlook the first time around because last year J.J. (Sawchuk) and 'Kelso' (Kelsey O'Connor) scored so many points," he said. "We told her, J.J. and 'Kelso' that this year teams are going to lock down on J.J. and 'Kelso' and she might be the one who receives the benefits."

Sawchuk added 16 points and Olivia Dunigan chipped in 10 coming off the bench. Ally Hanas' 9 points came on a trio of 3-pointers. She hit two 3s in the second quarter, helping the hosts extend their lead to 41-27 by halftime.

"They're one of the best in the area," said coach Paul Brettner, whose Cougars were within 21-15 early in the second quarter. "That's a game you just try to compete and get better against real good competition."

Jessica Schwartz scored 10 points for Vernon Hills (0-3, 0-3), which lost close games against Prairie Ridge and Glenbrook North earlier in the week.

"I was telling the girls that we're playing just good enough to lose by a little bit, and we can't do that," Brettner said. "We can't have those mistakes, we can't have that lack of concentration, we can't have that lack of intensity."

The up-tempo Mustangs are averaging nearly 70 points per game.

"This is our style," said Evans, whose team plays Highland Park at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. "We press, we run. Then as the season goes on, teams adjust to it and our point totals go down.

"But our defense gets better."