Slow start can't stop Naperville Central

Some day these slow starts could cost Naperville Central.

Just not Saturday in West Chicago.

The Redhawks spotted the host Wildcats a 14-point lead before rallying to win 58-43. Naperville Central (13-9, 8-2 DuPage Valley Conference) has won five straight games but in the last week also trailed West Aurora 9-0 and Wheaton Warrenville South 25-10 in the early going.

"Unfortunately it's not the first time that's happened," Redhawks senior Kelley Hendrick said, "but hopefully our intensity from the second quarter on will eventually start in the first quarter. You don't want to get in the habit of coming back from 15 down."

West Chicago (9-11, 4-4), already with conference wins at home against Wheaton North and Glenbard East, came out of the gate fast. The Wildcats hit 7 of their first 8 shots, and Mary Connolly's basket with 3:01 left in the first quarter gave West Chicago a 16-2 lead.

A turning point came when Naperville Central switched defenses, going from a 2-2-1 fullcourt pressure and 2-3 zone in the halfcourt to a diamond and one fullcourt backed into a 1-3-1 halfcourt trap.

The pressure got to West Chicago. By the quarter Naperville Central had the deficit trimmed to 20-9, and the Redhawks scored the first 17 points of the second quarter. Naperville Central forced 21 turnovers in the first half. Two Emma Ondik free throws and an Ondik 3-pointer started the quarter, and two Katherine Tanck baskets gave the Redhawks the lead for good.

"We thought we could pressure them," Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum said, "and I have to give our girls a lot of credit. We've changed defenses on the fly without timeouts more than any other group I've ever had. We got in their face a little more."

West Chicago, also plagued by turnovers in its first loss to Naperville Central, was further hurt by leading scorer Jessica Baids getting her second foul midway through the first quarter. The Wildcats start two freshman guards and played most of the half with a sophomore post player.

"Their diamond and one hurt us," West Chicago coach Kim Wallner said. "We get kind of small when our guards get trapped and they're still young."

The margin was still just 3 midway through the third quarter, but consecutive 3-pointers by Hendrick, Claire Fleming and Ondik pushed it to 44-32.

Hendrick and Ondik scored 13 points each, Fleming had 11 points and Tanck 10 points and 12 rebounds for Naperville Central, which remained a game back of Wheaton North in the DVC race.

"We got a few big games coming up with Glenbard East and Wheaton North," Hendrick said. "We can do it."

Liz Reyes had 11 points and Claire Monroe 10 for West Chicago.