Outside shooting sparks N. Stars

A little role reversal worked just fine for the St. Charles North girls basketball team.

Plenty of times this year - make that the last four years - 6-foot-4 Kelsey Smith has put the team on her back and carried them to victory.

Saturday night her teammates took a turn playing Smith's role. With their star center on the bench in foul trouble part of the game and covered tightly the rest of it, several of the North Stars took turns making the shots that added up to a 50-33 victory over St. Charles East.

• Anna Conrad started the game on fire, scoring 7 points in the first quarter. She finished with 12 on perfect 5-of-5 shooting.

• Jena Bell tied Conrad for scoring honors with 12 points, hitting 6 of her 10 shots.

• Alex Messacar warmed up from 3-point range, making 3 of her 4. Coupled with Conrad's 2 of 2 and a 3 from Tess Fischer, the North Stars made 6 of 9 3-pointers.

"It goes to show you that if we're not getting it done on the inside, we can get it done on the outside," St. Charles North coach Katie Sauber said. "We are well balanced on the court. Kelsey still did a nice job, good defense, pulled down some nice rebounds."

Smith finished with 8 rebounds and 3 blocked shots to go with 6 points. She had to sit out the final 4:46 of the first half, which ended with the Saints (11-8, 3-3) within 20-17.

"That was a great first half. We were playing great 'D.' I think we were frustrating them a little bit," St. Charles East coach Lori Drumtra said.

"I was really pleased on offense how patient we were. We really made North play defense. If you reverse it enough, usually you are going to get a good look. The first half I couldn't have scripted it any better."

St. Charles North (16-5, 6-0) broke open the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Saints 18-10 for a 38-27 lead.

"We definitely picked it up in the second half," Bell said. "We wanted to come out with a lot of energy. It's probably our biggest game of the year."

Messacar led the third-quarter charge with a pair of 3-pointers.

"As soon as I released it it felt really good," Messacar said. "It's been awhile since I've hit three in a row."

"She did a wonderful job," Sauber said. "She likes that baseline for sure."

Stephanie Roan led the Saints with 12 points, including 9 in the first half to keep the game close.

"My coach always tells me don't hesitate, shoot, so I just thought it was North, all the fans were here, so I'd go ahead and shoot," Roan said. "My teammates got me the ball."

Kara Schnier led the Saints with 5 rebounds while battling Smith.

"I always love going up against players who everyone is in awe over," Schnier said. "People don't think I will be able to do anything because I'm 5-11. I knew I had to play a really physical game because I couldn't match up with her height wise. It was a really fun game. Our guards too did a great job doubling down."