St. Viator maintains winning ways, tops Schaumburg
After enjoying a stellar start to this girls basketball season in 2008, St. Viator wants to make sure things remain at the same clip for 2009.
The Lions got off on the right foot Saturday, adding to one of their best starts in school history with a 57-44 triumph over visiting Schaumburg in the Cahill Gymnasium.
The Lions' backcourt of junior Susan Hohenadel (20 points, 3 steals) and senior Kelly Hendricks (15 points, 2 3-pointers, 4 steals) combined for 35 points.
St. Viator is 13-4 and heads into Monday night's East Suburban Catholic Conference game with a 4-0 league record against visiting Bishop McNamara (3-1).
"This game was huge for us," said Lions senior guard Jamie Blenner, who chipped in 7 points with 6 rebounds. "This gets us on track for the rest of the season. And Schaumburg (6-10) is a good team."
The nonconference matinee was close throughout but the Lions gradually pulled away in the final three minutes.
A layup by senior Sarah Kellermeyer (13 points, 11 rebounds) brought the Saxons to within 44-40 with 3:16 left. But Viator went on a 13-4 run to close out the game.
Blenner started the big finish with a 17-footer from the baseline. Hendricks and classmate Colleen Nolan (10 points, 3 assists) ended it with free throws in the final 21 seconds.
Hohenadel made 5 free throws during the rally and was 9-of-10 for the game along with her 5 field goals, including a 3-pointer early in the third quarter for a 29-22 Lions lead.
"This was a sloppy game for us," said Hohenadel, who also had 3 steals. "But this was a step forward for us. Usually when we come out with a win, we are satisfied. But this time we weren't satisfied because we felt we played sloppy and chaotic. But we still won."
Lions coach Paul Bjerkness was impressed by the Saxons' rebounding, led by senior Sarah McGinn (18 points, 15 rebounds), Kellermeyer and freshman Kelly Skorczewski (6).
"They rebounded like there was no tomorrow," Bjerkness said. "We shot our free throws well and valued the ball at the end. But Schaumburg played hard and did a good job.
"They got a lot of offensive rebounds, and that is sort of uncharacteristic for us. Susan and Colleen (8-of-10) shot well from the free throws line and Kelly Hendricks had a good game for us."
Junior Mary Calov also pulled down 6 rebounds for the Lions while Nolan took a charge.
"This team has the most fun of any I've played on," said the speedy Hendricks. "We play real well together and we really know each other well. We just need to box out better and our shots weren't falling as well as they usually do."
Schaumburg's biggest lead came at 16-11 when freshman Alyssa Saklak converted a layup with 4:13 left in the second quarter.
But Viator went on an 8-0 run - sparked by Hendricks' 3-pointer and steal and layup - to erase the Saxons' advantage.
"We competed a little but obviously we are not anywhere where we need to be," said Saxons coach Bill Murmann, a former coach for St. Viator who received 3 steals from Meaghan Hutchison and 2 assists from Saklak. "Hopefully, we'll get there.
"As a team we know what we want to do, but we must execute and do it. We had only one girl do her job well and that was our manager (Michelle Brand)."
Junior Taylor Kosla (broken finger), sophomore Rachel Stuehm (stress fracture) and sophomore Jennifer Pomagier (torn ACL, being repaired) were sidelined for the Saxons, who visit Prospect (13-3) on Tuesday.
Loyola 57, Hersey 42: Loyola (15-1) began to pull away late in the third quarter in this nonconference matinee in Wilmette.
The Huskies (10-5) were led by Kelly Rogowski (18 points, 5 steals) and Kathryn Korff (10 points, 6 rebounds).
Loyola's only loss is to Marshall. A week earlier, the Huskies lost to undefeated Hinsdale Central and next Saturday they play undefeated Wheeling (17-0).
"You can't fault our schedule," said Huskies coach Mary Fendley, whose club defeated highly-regarded Mother McAuley at the Maine West Tip-Off Classic.
"I thought Kelly (Rogowski and Kathryn (Korff) played well for us. They (Loyola) were very good in transition. In the first half our press bothered them. But in the second half we were barely able to set up our press because we didn't score that much."
Marshall 68, Buffalo Grove 42: Junior Stacey Lialios led the Bison (5-12) with 11 points and sophomore Nell Boyd added 9 against Class 3A state-ranked Marshall in Chicago. Teammates Andrea DiPrima (8 points) hit a pair of 3-pointers while Kaitlin Hillner tossed in 6.
Injury update: Palatine coach Leslie Schock reported that all-area standout Katie MacFabe will miss the remainder of the because of a foot injury which also plagued the senior at the start of the season. The coach said her 6-foot-2 forward plans to attend DePaul University on a partial scholarship for track and field.