Eight's great as Grayslake Central gets on a roll

Eight is now the magic number for the Grayslake Central girls basketball team. In each of the Rams' games in this year's state tournament, Grayslake has started the game by outscoring its opponent 8-0. On Tuesday, in the Rams' first sectional semifinal contest in five years, senior Katelynn Putkonen gave the Rams another great eight to start the game.

Putkonen scored the first 8 points in another 8-0 start for Grayslake and that was just the spark the Rams needed in a 59-32 win over Ridgewood at the Class 3A North Chicago sectional.

Grayslake (18-11) will play in its first sectional title game since the Rams went down state in 2004 when they meet top-seeded Johnsburg, a 78-32 winner Monday over Sullivan, on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.

"(Eight) just seems to be our magic number," said Grayslake coach Roger Lass. "We started that way against Antioch and Richmond and we started that way tonight - and we kept going."

Typically an 8-0 run would be more than enough to get the Rams off on the right foot. But Putkonen and Grayslake were hardly satisfied.

"We know as a team that when we get up on a team we can get our diamond press going," said Putkonen, who led all scorers with 12 points. "Once we get ahead we play with a lot of confidence and we did that against Antioch, Richmond and we did it tonight against Ridgewood."

The run extended through the end of the first quarter when the Rams completed the 20-0 blanking in the period. The Lady Rebels finally hit the scoreboard in the second quarter on a bucket from Erin Orland (4 points, 6 rebounds). But that only prolonged what turned out to be a sensational first half for the Rams. Grayslake outscored Ridgewood 18-8 in the second quarter on its way to a 38-8 halftime bulge.

"I think (when the score gets like that) you try and be efficient and remain a team that is a good sport," Lass added. "But you still have to go out and do what you do and do it right and I think the kids did that."

With the added cushion, the Rams had a chance to get everyone in the roster into the game. With the starters resting for much of the second half, the Rams were able to get scoring contributions from 12 players.

Ridgewood (4-21) finally put together a run in the fourth quarter as the Lady rebels outscored Grayslake 16-5. Melissa Vitale led Ridgewood with 10 points. Senior Tara McCormack added 9 and 8 boards.

Grayslake now gets a chance to knock down Johnsburg on Thursday night. The Skyhawks beat the Rams twice this season.

"(Johnsburg) is the team to beat," Lass said. "We played them twice, and one of the games was tight and the other wasn't - should be a good game."