Buffalo Grove perfect through MSL East's first half
Call it a perfect first-round knockout for Buffalo Grove's girls basketball team in the Mid-Suburban East.
The Bison finished 5-0 after Friday night's 71-47 victory over visiting Prospect.
Senior Natali Dimitrova led BG with a game-high 20 points followed by classmate Maddie Welter (19) and Sammy Stejskal (13).
The Bison led 20-6 after one quarter and never looked back while converting 10 3-pointers, including five from Welter. Teammates Georgette Topalis, Stejskal, Kendall Prochaska, Kaela Drum and Megan Gamber each had one as BG improved to 13-4 overall.
The Bison lead Hersey (16-3, 4-1) by one game in the East. The two teams play at Hersey next Friday.
Prospect (7-13, 1-4) was led by Angela Roman (17 points), Nikki Matters (10) and Angelina Villasin (8).
Knights sophomore sharpshooter Emily Frasco suffered a knee injury at the end of the first quarter.
"We changed our defensive layout and played better in the second half," said Knights coach Gabrielle Lovin. "We were also without Clare O'Carroll (ankle injury).
In addition to her 17 points, Roman also pulled down 7 rebounds.
"Angela came back into form with strong play underneath," Lovin said. "And Nikki (Matters) played a strong game as well. We have to take care of the ball and play better defense."
Barrington 53, Palatine 44: Senior guard Kelly Katis scored a game-high 20 points with 3 steals as the visiting Fillies improved to 7-10 and 3-2 in the MSL West.
"I thought Kelly Katis had a nice game overall," said Barrington coach Babbi Barreiro. "She played well at both ends of the floor."
Other scoring leaders for Barrington were Megan Talbot (15 points), Auri Grayson (8) and Tori Meyer (6).
Talbot scored 8 of her points in the fourth quarter when Barrington outscored Palatine 19-6.
"Megan had a real nice fourth quarter," Barrerio said. "That was definitely our best quarter of the game.
"I thought played hard, and together as a team but defensively, we didn't do the things we needed to do in the first and third quarters."
Palatine (7-12, 0-5) led 21-20 after one quarter.
"Palatine really came out strong in the first quarter," Barreiro said. "We did not play four good quarters and that's something we have to get better at.
"I thought Tori Meyer (freshman guard) gave us some nice minutes off the bench, offensively and defensively."
Alex Van Ryne grabbed 8 rebounds for Barrington.
"I felt the difference in the game is that in the fourth quarter we executed and held our composure," Barreiro said. "And we did a good job boxing out."
The Pirates were led by Carrissa Multon (11), Elena Porrata (9) and Ashley Shapiro (8).
Reggie Much had a pair of 3-pointers for Palatine while Multon, Cora Jacobsen Porrata each had one.
Wheeling 60, Elk Grove 41: Junior forward Melissa Claver scored a career-high 28 points (12 field goals, including a 3-pointer) and freshman Nosa Igiehon added 10 points to lead Wheeling (10-10, 2-3) in the MSL East.
Senior forward Sarah Pauscher paced the Grens (2-15, 0-5) with 12 points while Abbey Sloan added 8.
Claver, whose previous career-high was 22 points against Lake Forest, and teammate Coco Yoshino each connected for 3-pointers while Carly Crothers had one for EG.
Maine West 72, Deerfield 44: Maine West made things a little easier this time.
Senior Jordan Hart hit a buzzer beater to edge Deerfield when the two teams met in the first round of CSL North play.
But on Friday in Des Plaines, Maine West had plenty of a cushion at the end.
Top scorers for West (12-6, 6-0) were Rachel Kent (14 points), Catherine Johnson (11), Monica Liwag (9), Liz Sanchez (6), Destiny Onyeise (6) and Jessica Riedl (6).
It was the first time all season Maine West coach Derril Kipp had his entire squad healthy.
Sanchez had a pair of 3-pointers for West while Allison Pearson, Liwag and Johnson each had one.