Vernon Hills starts 2011 with victory

Vernon Hills' girls basketball team got 2011 off to a good start.

Freshman Sydney Smith scored 12 points to lead three Cougars in double figures, as Vernon Hills defeated visiting Round Lake 60-35 in North Suburban Prairie Division action Thursday night.

Abby Springer added 11 points, including three 3-pointers, and 5 rebounds for Vernon Hills (8-8, 4-2), which won just the second time in its last nine games and had not played in two weeks. Cougars center Meri Bennett-Swanson just missed a double-double, finishing with 10 points and 9 rebounds. Becca Feld grabbed 5 rebounds.

Round Lake (6-11, 0-6) received a game-high 21 points from Chanae Brown.