Bushman paces Naperville North past Wheaton North
When Naperville North needs a big play, it’s probably coming from Shannon Bushman.
And that’s just fine by her.
“Honestly, I love it,” said the Huskies senior. “It’s nice to know my team is counting on me.”
Bushman scored 16 points for Naperville North on Thursday, none bigger than a three-point play after her steal that stemmed a Wheaton North comeback in the Huskies’ 50-41 win in Wheaton.
Wheaton North (2-4, 0-1 DuPage Valley Conference), down 12 at half and 11 late in the third quarter, closed to within 37-35 with 7:01 left after Jaquala Hillman split two free throws.
Naperville North (3-3, 1-0) missed a shot at the other end, but Bushman ripped the ball away from the Falcons rebounder and in one motion laid in a score and was fouled.
“She caught the ball facing me,” Bushman said, “and I was there to make the play.”
A minute before, Bushman had turned another steal into a rolling one-handed runner.
“That was the game-changer,” Huskies coach Jacquie Discipio said of the second play. “It shifted the tide and we got control back. Shannon’s a competitor and she’s been there before. I had no doubt that if we needed a play she’d make it.”
From there, Wheaton North went scoreless for more than six minutes, a gradual Huskies 8-0 run making it 45-35 until the Falcons finally scored with under a minute left.
Wheaton North’s inexperience showed, particularly its backcourt, the Falcons turning the ball over 34 times.
“We showed signs of being a young team. We have kids that haven’t been in a competitive environment like this in a varsity game,” Falcons coach Dave Eaton said. “Several times we got steals and then gave it right back to them.”
Eaton could be heartened by the play of Chrissy Baird. Relentlessy hitting the glass, the 6-foot sophomore pulled down 24 rebounds to go with 12 points despite battling shin splints.
“She doesn’t play like a sophomore,” Eaton said. “She’s stepped in and been our most consistent player. She’s our rock right now.”
Kathleen Hahne scored 10 points for Naperville North, hitting two of the team’s six 3-pointers, and freshman Kayla Sharples had 6 points and 9 rebounds. Naperville North won despite making just 16 of 34 free throws — and at one point had made just 7 of 24.
Bushman hit 6 of 7 down the stretch. She didn’t do much scoring the first three quarters other than a pair of 3s, but with backcourt mate Zoe Swift in Georgia for a soccer tournament Bushman must adjust into a distributor role.
“It changes my role completely when Zoe’s gone,” Bushman said.
Bushman isn’t complaining about having her running mate back, though, after Swift originally didn’t come out for the team.
“I’m so excited,” she said.
The game was a little ragged throughout, but that is in part to the Huskies’ liking. It helps to have a guard who’s been through the DVC ringer.
“Their team is a lot like ours,” Discipio said, “we’re both young and we both came in 2-3. Shannon is the difference.”
Montini 49, Walther Lutheran 41:Tianna Brown powered in 19 points and 7 rebounds and Nikia Edom 11 for the No. 4 Broncos (6-1, 2-0 Suburban Christian Conference Blue) in Melrose Park.West Chicago 53, Glenbard North 46:Claire Monroe poured in 17 points and Laura Panicali 16 for the Wildcats (4-2, 1-0 DVC). Laila Pickens and Katie Wisniewski each tallied 14 points for Glenbard North (3-3, 0-1).Naperville Central 67, Glenbard East 12:Sarah Lang scored 13 points and Morgan Andreoni 11 for the No. 12 Redhawks (4-3, 1-0 DVC) in Naperville.Proviso West 48, Glenbard West 29:Claire Riley scored 11 points and Natalie Noland 10 for the visiting Hilltoppers (5-1, 1-1 West Suburban Silver).Aurora Central 49, St. Francis 38:Lexi Riccolo scored 11 points and Kate Slattery and Aly Germanos each added 7 for the Spartans.