Hersey, Elk Grove deliver tourney wins at Wheaton N.
Less than 12 hours after earning its biggest win of the season, Hersey's girls basketball team was back on the floor playing its first-round game of the Wheaton North tournament Saturday morning.
The Huskies (8-3) didn't miss a beat, posting a 69-19 victory over Elgin in the 9 a.m. game coming off a dramatic 54-49 victory over state power Wheeling the night before.
"I think the girls were still going on adrenaline from the night before," said Huskies coach Mary Fendley, whose No. 3-seeded tourney team limited the Maroons to 2 points in the second half.
Junior Megan Rogowski poured in a game-high 22 points while seniors Maddie Swan and Julia Fredian each had 8. Jen Hall and Eileen Zydek chipped in 7 apiece for the Huskies, who will face Wheaton North in Monday's 3 p.m. quarterfinal.
The host school upset No. 6 seeded Glenbrook South.
Elk Grove 50, Willowbrook 32: The Grenadiers got off to a good start at Wheaton North, outscoring Willowbrook 16-3 in the first quarter and staying comfortably ahead for a first-round victory.
The Grens (10-2) got a game-high 17 points from senior Courtney Lindfors and 10 more from sophomore sharpshooter Dani Goranson.
Coach Ryan Kirkorsky provided ample playing time to some of his reserves and said he was especially pleased with the production of forward Leah Miller, who had 8 points and 4 rebounds.
Standout senior forward Ashley Capotosto did not play but has been cleared to rejoin the squad for the Elk Grove's next tournament game, a 4:30 p.m. Monday championship bracket contest against Jacobs (9-2), which edged Glenbard South 46-41 on Saturday.
Downers Grove North 35, Schaumburg 30: The Saxons (2-10) were led on offense by Taylor Kosla's 14 points, including four 3-pointers.
Junior Jennifer Pomagier pulled down 9 rebounds for Schaumburg, which will face Aurora East at noon on Monday in the consolation quarterfinals.
Wheeling 67, Lake Forest 34: Wheeling posted an impressive 67-34 victory as the Wildcats began defense of their Warren tournament championship.
Leading the way for Wheeling (9-2) were seniors Janelle Cannon (19 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks), Stephanie Kuzmanic (19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals) and Bianca Szafarowicz (15 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 steals).
Coach Shelly Wiegel's Wildcats led 19-5 and never looked back.
Seniors Larissa Aguero chipped in 6 points while sophomore Leah Malsom and senior Selma Smajlovic each had 4.
Hoffman Estates 43, Waukegan 16: Junior forward Stotts led Hoffman with 17 points and 5 rebounds as the Hawks improved to 9-3 with the opening-round win in the Mundelein tournament.
Coach Mike Nocella was most proud of his team's defense, which held an opponent under 20 points for the fifth time this season.
"Our defense has been unbelievable," the coach said. "We've done a lot of nice things. If we get our offense together, we'll be tough to beat."
Sophomore guard Mary Pettit had her second straight solid game, scoring 8 points with 4 rebounds and 3 assists.
"Mary has given us back-to-back good games," Nocella said. "And that balances us out well."
Senior guard Kelsey Lukowicz collected 4 steals and classmate Megan Bernardoni had 3 assists and a 3-pointer for the tourney's defending champion.
Streamwood 38, Rolling Meadows 37: Senior Maryclare Loughery scored 13 points and classmate Kelly Adair added 10 to lead Rolling Meadows (4-6) in the opening-round game of the Mundelein tournament.