Libertyville withstands wackiness

There was no visible moon in Buffalo Grove's sky Thursday night and only a glimpse of Libertyville's Molly Moon on the basketball court in the high school gym.

It got full-moon crazy, though, in a season-opening game between two of Lake County's best teams in 2010-11, Libertyville and Grayslake Central.

First, Libertyville lost Moon, a first-year starting forward, in the final minute of the opening quarter when the senior landed on her wrist near half-court.

Moon didn't return and had her arm in a sling in the second half.

"She's injured that before." Wildcats coach Kathie Swanson said.

Libertyville later lost another starter when 6-foot center Nicole Kruckman fouled out with still 6:39 left in the third quarter.

Kruckman had picked up her fourth foul one minute into the second half.

"I strongly thought about (taking her out of the game)," Swanson said. "But at the same time, we didn't have any bigs behind her at that point."

Crazier still? Libertyville went on a 10-0 run after Kruckman fouled out and held off Grayslake Central down the stretch to win 46-39 in Buffalo Grove's Bison Classic.

"People are willing to step and fill the spots of the people who (graduated)," said senior forward Kerry Risley, who came off the bench to lead Libertyville with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 5 steals. "We'll fight through adversity and play hard."

Grayslake Central led 23-21 early in third, but Libertyville responded with Kruckman, a starter on last season's 29-1 squad, sitting on the bench. Alex Haley hit a 17-footer and then scored on a drive to the basket. Risley sandwiched a pair of jump shots around a driving layup by Eileen Knauff.

Libertyville outscored Grayslake Central 17-7 in the third to lead 38-27.

"I thought we looked for a lot of good things offensively (in the third quarter)," Swanson said. "Where we hurt ourselves was with a lot of turnovers (26) and defensive mistakes that, frankly, they know better than."

Skyler Jessop, the only starter back from Grayslake Central's 28-win team last season, led all scorers with 19 points (two 3-pointers) and also had 4 steals.

Claire Brennan added 10 points for Grayslake Central, which might play the whole season without point guard Colleen Daly (ACL).

"I wasn't happy with 23 turnovers, and I wasn't happy that we missed (9) free throws," Rams coach Steve Ikenn said. "But I saw a lot of real good things out there."

Jessop made Haley, a three-year varsity starter, work hard for her 12 points. Knauff had 9 points and 4 steals for the Wildcats.

"I have to put this in perspective," Swanson said. "We have a lot of kids who have never played varsity before, and they're in brand-new roles for the first time."

Jessop's 3-pointer with 28 seconds left pulled Grayslake Central within 42-39, but Libertyville answered with Olivia Mayer's layup that sealed it.

"We got the win, and we were just happy with that," said Risley, whose three-point play with 4:57 left stretched Libetyville's lead to 42-33. "At some points, I thought we looked really good."

"Libertyville is a tough team," Ikenn said. "They're physical, and they make you work."