Hersey’s practice pays off
One day at practice last week, Hersey girls basketball coach Mary Fendley called for a 10-minute session for all 3-point shooters to practice their long-range shots.
She told senior forward Maggie Hogen, one of the area’s top rebounders, to join the group as well.
“Maggie kind of looked at me funny,” Fendley said. “Our kids always joke about post players shooting 3-pointers.”
On Thursday afternoon in the fifth-place game of the 28th annual Bill Neibch Falcon Classic, Elk Grove sure wasn’t laughing about Hogen’s 3-point shooting skills which helped Hersey pull out a dramatic 42-38 triumph at Wheaton North.
The 5-foot-11 multi-sport athlete hit one of the biggest shots of the game.
She drilled a 3-pointer from near the top of the key to give Hersey a 38-36 lead with 1:15 left.
Moments later, senior guard Corinne Busby made 2 free throws to put the Huskies (7-8) ahead 40-36.
But like for all 32 minutes, Elk Grove (8-6) refused to quit.
Junior standout Diamond Boyd hit an 8-foot bank shot with 32.5 seconds left to cut the deficit to 40-38.
The Grens got the ball back when they forced a jump ball on Hersey’s next possession.
But Hogen (8 points, 11 rebounds) tipped away an entry pass and deflected it to Jen Hall (game-high 21 points), who was fouled with 22.7 seconds left.
“I was shaking,” said Hersey’s dynamite 5-foot-5 senior guard. “But I had been in that position before.”
That was ever so evident as Hall calmly sank both free throws for the 42-38 lead which held up for the final score.
“Jen hit some timely shots,” Fendley said. “Three times we were behind and twice she got us back ahead and once Maggie (with the 3-pointer).
“Maggie’s a very good shooter. She always has the green light to shoot 3s. And I thought Maggie’s defense was terrific.
“That’s our two four-year varsity players (Hogen and Hall) stepping up in a big game.”
And an encore between the two teams isn’t far off.
They will meet in the first of two Mid-Suburban East games a week from Saturday at the Ken Carter Gymnasium in Arlington Heights at 7 p.m.
“I told our girls I was pleased with their effort,” said Grens coach Ryan Kirkorsky. “I thought we battled and our kids showed toughness. I’ve just got to credit Hersey. They made more plays down the stretch than we did.”
Boyd led the Grens with 16 points and 9 rebounds while Kari Czeszewski added 7 points with 2 assists. Freshman Amber Lindfors pulled down 5 rebounds with 2 blocked shots.
Czeswewski had a nifty rebound and then went coast-to-coast for a layup which got the Grens to within 28-27 to start the third quarter.
Junior Kelly Naughton (6 points, 5 assists) then drove for a scoop layup to give Elk Grove a 29-28 advantage, before Hall hit a 3-pointer to get Hersey back in front.
Elk Grove got its last lead at 36-33 when Melissa Solorio (6 points, 11 rebounds) converted her second putback of the game off a missed free throw.
“We’ve been challenging her (Solorio) to attack the glass,” Kirkorsky said. “And she stepped up to the challenge.”
Hall also had 4 steals, 2 assists and 2 rebounds.
“This was fun,” said the veteran guard while clutching the fifth-place trophy. “Elk Grove is a real good team. Kelly Naughton is a great player, so is Diamond Boyd.”
Hersey sophomore Renee Poulos collected 5 points and 5 rebounds while teammate Meg Cerniglia pulled down 2 boards with her 5 points.
“You always want to go 4-0,” said Fendley, whose team is 11-1 the last three years in Wheaton. “But I’m thrilled with 3-1 the way we came back after a tough loss on Tuesday (45-43 to West Aurora in the quarterfinals).”