Hersey press flusters Wheaton North

Hersey coach Mary Fendley asked for a little rebounding and leadership from her Huskies. What they gave Wheaton North was a nasty press.

The Huskies used that press to force 12 third-quarter turnovers and come from behind to defeat host Wheaton North 56-41 at the Bill Neibch Falcon Holiday Tournament.

"Ironically, I'd asked them to start running the press halfway through the second quarter and I guess someone forgot," Fendley said. "I guess it worked out well because they didn't have time to discuss it at halftime."

The unseeded Falcons led No. 3 Hersey 23-20 at halftime and by 7 early in the third quarter. Then all of a sudden, nothing worked right for the Falcons.

"We just didn't execute," Wheaton North coach David Eaton said. "We had them, a 7-point lead. ... Yesterday Glenbrook South pressed us and we did fine. Today we didn't execute. That's what it comes down to."

The Huskies turned the turnovers into easy baskets, scoring 11 straight points to take a 31-27 lead midway through the third quarter. Hersey piled up 18 points in each of the final two periods.

"The third and fourth quarter we just gave up too many points," Eaton said. "We gave up 36 points in the second half, and you're not going to win many games if you're giving up 18 points a quarter, so we have to do a better job defensively of finding shooters, and we gave up way too many offensive rebounds tonight."

Megan Rogowski poured in 22 points for the Huskies (9-3), and Julia Fredian added 12. Andrea Perkins added solid defense on Wheaton North point guard Fantasia Vine until Perkins left the game late due to injury, with Kari Tunney filling in.

"Her defense on Vine I think was the key," Fendley said of Perkins.

"Wheaton North is a really good team," Fendley added. "Their record is a little deceptive as far as I know they weren't at full strength the whole season, so we're really happy to come out with a win against a good team and happy to be in the final four at this tournament."

Hersey will meet Mid-Suburban League rival Elk Grove in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Wheaton North takes on Jacobs at 3 p.m.

"We were were right there, a 7-point lead," Eaton said, "so I think it shows we can play with them. Now we just have to do better and come in and play a full 32 minutes."