Kirchoff trend extends as Barrington tops Jacobs
The last name Kirchoff has been a leading scorer for Barrington's girls basketball team quite a few times over the past six years.
Anna and Abby, though, are both graduated.
But guess what?
Little sister Angie has stepped right in.
Sophomore guard Angie Kirchoff scored 9 points while senior Nicole Collins and junior Maddie Bartz each added 7 for the Fillies in a 57-29 season-opening win over Jacobs in Algonquin.
In winning her 316th career game, coach Babbi Barreiro watched 12 of her 15 players make it into the scoring column, including 6 points from Alexa Resch.
"It's always nice to come out on top in your first game," Barreiro said. "We had a lot of kids contribute offensively and defensively, so I was happy about that."
Senior forward K.D. Madden led Barrington on the boards with 7 rebounds while Collins had 4. Sophomore Brooke Gunderson collected 3 steals and 2 assists.
Collins had to leave the game early in the third quarter when she was hit in the face while going up for a layup after making a steal off an inbounds pass. "She was popped in the nose pretty good," Barreiro said.
Collins, whose status for Thursday is unknown, is the Fillies' only returning starter.
Collins, Abby Taplett and Kirchoff each had 3-point baskets for the Fillies.
"Angie is very aggressive," Barreiro said after Kirchoff's varsity debut. "She's only a sophomore so obviously we're looking for nice things from her."
Barreiro couldn't help but think of one person as she opened her 19th season on Tuesday. Her father Jay died this summer.
He missed very few games since Babbi began coaching at Barrington in 1989.
"It definitely felt different," Babbi said. "He gave me so much support over the years. He'd been a voice of reason and support."
Schaumburg 61, Proviso West 58: Schaumburg started out with a win in its own tournament as 5-foot-11 senior Alyssa Saklak scored a game-high 23 points.
Freshman Jada Blackwell added 10 points in her varsity debut while sophomore Madison Laramie and senior Kelly Skorczewski both added 7 for the Saxons.
Niles West 49, Hersey 32: Senior Jewell Lloyd, one of the top players in the nation, scored a game-high 30 points as Niles West won the nonconference matchup in Skokie.
"She's amazing," said Huskies coach Mary Fendley. "She is an incredible shooter."
Forward Renee Poulos scored 8 points to lead Hersey while guard Jen Hall added 8.
Maine South 60, Wheeling 38: Freshman guard Deanna Kuzmanic scored 21 points with 5 rebounds, 2 steals and an assist in her varsity debut for the Wildcats.
Her sister Kellie added 7 points and 7 rebounds against the state-ranked Hawks in Park Ridge.