Barrington girls continue perfect start, top Regina
Barrington girls basketball coach Babbi Barreiro says an important reason her Fillies are off to a 3-0 start is because so many players are contributing.
One of them is 5-foot-6 sophomore guard Sam Massarani, who has been coming off the bench.
The rookie did her job again Tuesday, sharing team-scoring honors (10 points) with classmate Abby Kirchoff.
Senior Anna Kirchoff added 9 points and junior Emily Harris 8 as the Fillies stopped Regina 45-39 in the third-round game of the Bison Classic held at Maine South High School.
"Sam is doing a nice job," Barreiro said. "She is shooting like she is supposed to be but she is also getting rebounds and playing defense. Abby and Anna did a good job getting steals. We've just been very together as a team."
Trailing 35-29, Massarani was fouled shooting a 3-pointer and made all 3 free throws, igniting a 13-0 run by Barrington.
As part of the big run, Sarah Mass and Sarah Reindl converted back-to-back 3-pointers to start the fourth quarter.
"They showed great confidence to take those shots and make them," Barreiro said. "We're playing confident as a team and playing together and I really like that. That's why we have been successful so far."
Abby Kirchoff scored all 10 of her points in the second half.
"We are playing well as a team," Kirchoff said. "And we are very focused in our games."
Regina, coached by Jim Russo, is now 2-2 overall. Russo's assistant is former Fremd Hall of Fame coach Carol Plodzien.
One of Plodzien's former stars, Kathy Pezdirtz Jones, was on the other bench serving as an assistant for Barriero.
Crystal Lake South 39, Buffalo Grove 34: BG (0-3) went ahead 30-29 when sophomore Andrea DiPrima hit a 3-pointer with 1:38 left in regulation of the third-round game of the Bison Classic at Maine South.
Junior Heather Nisbet's driving layup with 1:10 left tied the game at 32-32, the way it stood heading into overtime.
"Oh my goodness, the effort was there again," said BG rookie coach Pat Dudle. "Each game these kids are improving which is all a coach can ask."
DiPrima led BG with 11 points while Nisbet added 10 and sophomore Kelly Mahoney 5.
"Going to overtime against a top team in this tournament shows we are improving," said Kaitlin Hillner, who added 4 points. "We've already shown a lot of improvement in just two weeks. After our losses, we come back to practice the next day and try to keep getting better."
Hoffman Estates 73, Leyden 38: Hoffman Estates improved to 4-0 in the Elk-Grove-Fenton tourney and will try to notch a perfect record in the six-team tourney on Saturday at 11 a.m. when it plays Elk Grove at Lake Park West.
The Hawks clinched the tourney title as senior Megan Fischer led the way with 26 points and 5 rebounds. Jada Stotts collected 13 rebounds, 6 points and 4 steals while Carol King had 10 points, 4 assists and 3 steals.
Elk Grove 56, Fenton 34: Ashley Capotosto (13 rebounds) and freshman Dani Goranson (3 steals) shared scoring honors for Elk Grove (2-2) with 13 points apiece while Krystina Leazer added 12 points and 7 rebounds in the fourth-round game of the Elk Grove-Fenton tourney.
Kristy Ottosen helped spark the Grenadiers' defense with 6 steals.
"Olivia Roback had a great floor game for us," said Elk Grove coach Ryan Kirkorsky.
Wheeling 67, Johnsburg 47: Wheeling improved to 4-0 overall on Monday night and 3-0 in the Niles North tournament as Ashley Wilson (25 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 block, 1 assist), Janelle Cannon (16 points, four 3-pointers) and Bianca Szarfarowicz (15 points) led the way for the Wildcats, who led 38-20 at the break.
Palatine 44, McHenry 35: Heather Zimmerman (15 points), Katie Mnichowicz (11) and Katie Scovic (7) led the Pirates (2-3, 2-2) on Monday night in the fourth-round game of the Dundee Crown tournament.