Scrappy Naperville North grabs victory from Neuqua

Girls basketball season is a three-month grind - and it was encapsulated in 32 minutes on Tuesday night in Naperville.

Naperville North wasn't complaining.

In a nip-and-tuck affair that didn't lack for hustle or scrap, the Huskies pulled out a 47-45 win at Neuqua Valley.

"It was a grudge match, close the entire way," Huskies coach Jacquie Discipio. "Never did I feel comfortable, I don't think Neuqua ever felt comfortable. But testament to these girls that they fought and fought and never gave up."

Indeed, the biggest lead for either team was 6, an advantage Naperville North held twice. The last came at 29-23 midway through the third quarter. Neuqua Valley, which trailed nearly the entire game, clawed back to take a 42-40 lead with 2:38 left on a Bria Williams three-point play.

Two Colleen Warren free throws tied it with 1:35 left, and Naperville North then forced a Neuqua turnover in the backcourt. After a timeout Huskies freshman guard Bria Walker found Ashley Wiezeorick for a driving layup and 44-42 lead with 30 seconds remaining.

"That's one of our motion plays against a man-to-man defense," Wiezeorick said. "It usually is open. Cut to the basket off a screen. Usually wide open every time. First game of the season, it's a great win."

Neuqua missed a pair of 3-pointers on its next two trips, and Huskies freshman guard Zoe Swift made 3 of 4 free throws in the closing seconds. Naperville North as a team made 18 of 21 at the line, a positive sign for a team looking to improve on a 5-win season.

"Free throws really kept us in the game," Discipio said. "We miss a couple here and there it's a different ballgame."

Taylor Francesconi scored 7 points and McKenzie Hughes, the lone returning starter for Neuqua, had 7 points and 7 rebounds.

"It's a sign of inexperience - we have three times at the end there that we turned the ball over," Neuqua coach Mike Williams said. "All we have to do is take care of the basketball. The biggest thing for us right now is to stay positive and not focus on the negative parts. There's growing pains, but we'll come out of the diapers pretty soon."

Warren had 13 points for Naperville North and Wiezeorick 10. Freshman guards Swift and Walker added 9 and 8, respectively. Just as telling was their calm under pressure.

"Welcome to the program," Discipio said. "They've been great. I think they showed a lot of athletic potential, but they also showed a lot of poise. They got a little rattled at times, but they respond very well. A great addition to our seniors."