Downers North stuns Glenbard West

As good a victory as the 45-38 final score was for Downers Grove North on Saturday night in Glen Ellyn, it was that bad a loss for Glenbard West.

"It's a big win for our kids," Trojans coach Leslie Dehn said. "It's nice coming on the road and being able to get a win."

"We beat ourselves," Hilltoppers coach Mike Hofland said. "We played our worst game."

It was a big change from last week's 49-31 Glenbard West victory over the Trojans that clinched the Rachel Bach Memorial Tournament championship for the Hilltoppers.

"I think we were a little overconfident," Hofland said. "We made some poor decisions and got into foul trouble. Stupid fouls in the first half really hurt us. They had 9 points on baskets and 8 points on free throws and it was just stupid fouls. That really put us behind the 8-ball."

Fouls and free throws played a big role in the game. Three Hilltoppers fouled out, and the Trojans scored 21 of their 45 points at the free-throw line, including 15 in the final quarter.

"We always as coaches say how important free throws are, and the kids down the stretch, I think we had a couple of different ones step up and hit free throws and that's the difference in ballgames sometimes," Dehn said.

The Hilltoppers trailed much of the mistake-filled game but seemed to have turned the corner when they took a 31-30 lead on an Alex Capeles 3-pointer with 5:17 to go. But the Trojans kept getting to the free-throw line and doing well with those chances.

The Hilltoppers (7-1) lost their opener in what looks like a tough West Suburban Silver this year.

"It's disappointing," Hofland said. "I have a feeling this is going to come back and haunt us."

Next week will be even tougher for the Hilltoppers. They play at York, downstate in Bloomington and then at Hinsdale Central next week.

"We'll see if we can bounce back," said Hofland, whose team played without injured 6-footer Abby Hastings.

The Trojans (6-1, 2-0) will try to build on this confidence-booster.

"I think they're starting to feel like they can compete," Dehn said.

Junior Madeline Boltin led Downers Grove North with 14 points. Abbey White scored 15 for the Hilltoppers, and Cayla Herbst added 12.