Hawks remain unbeaten
The numbers all added up for Hoffman Estates Saturday in the final game of the Fenton-Elk Grove-Lake Park Thanksgiving tournament.
With 20 points and 8 rebounds from Megan Fischer, 13 points from Megan Bernardoni and 7 rebounds by Megan Evans, it equated to a fifth straight victory, 56-33 over Mid-Suburban League rival Elk Grove, and first place in the tourney.
It wasn't all about scoring and rebounding for the Hawks, though. Hoffman excelled on defense as well, limiting 6-foot Elk Grove junior Ashley Capotosto to 9 points in the tournament-clinching win, and holding the Grens to 2-of-9 from 3 point range.
Hoffman Estates (5-0) had already wrapped up the championship on tiebreakers Tuesday after their win over Leyden, but had to defeat the Grens to win outright.
"We knew this would be a tough game," said Fischer. "Our objective was to come in and play hard, and keep Ashley in check."
Capotosto had tallied 24, 20 and 13 points in her previous three tournament games, but was held scoreless in the first half Saturday, picking up her third foul in the second quarter.
"We tried to front her for a while," added Fischer, " but that didn't work. Then she got in foul trouble, and that helped us out a lot."
"They took us out of doing some of the things that we wanted to do," said Elk Grove coach Ryan Kirkorsky. "They got some good looks, and when a team like Hoffman Estates gets good looks like that, they're going to take advantage of them."
"I told the kids that Thanksgiving tournaments are where you work out the kinks, especially with our conference schedule starting next week."
Elk Grove (2-3) trailed big in the fourth quarter but closed to within 45-30 with 6:38 remaining when senior Kristy Ottosen (5 points) made 2 free throws.
But Hoffman then ran off about 11/2 minutes of clock before Fischer hit a layup and the Hawks extended the lead from there.
Missy Regan scored 7 points for the Grens while teammate Dani Goranson added 5.
"Elk Grove plays good basketball," said Hoffman Estates coach Mike Nocella. "Wheeling is top dog in the (MSL) East, but I think second place is up for grabs."
Carol King had 7 points for the Hawks while Jada Stotts (4 points, 4 blocks) played stellar defense against Capotosto.
"We run an equal-opportunity offense," said Nocella. "We take what the defense gives us. I thought today we were hitting on all cylinders.
"I was a little worried since we had already clinched, but the girls didn't let up. They wanted to win it outright."