Fremd clinches tie for MSL West title

Fremd's state-ranked girls basketball team clinched at least a tie for its seventh straight Mid-Suburban League West championship on Thursday night with an 80-26 victory over visiting Barrington.

No other MSL team has won more than five divisional titles in a row.

Coach Tom Dineen's Buffalo Grove teams won five straight from 1996 to 2000 (three in the old MSL North, and two in the current East Division).

Fremd won four in a row twice under former coach Carol Plodzien (1974 to 1977 in the North, and 2001-2004 in the West).

The Vikings (21-2, 8-0), who scored a season-high for points, placed four girls in double figures in the box score.

The quartet included seniors Brianna Lewis (17 points), Bryana Hopkins (15) and Erin Lenahan (14) and junior Grace Tworek (12).

Lewis also collected 6 assists and 5 steals while Hopkins had 6 steals and 6 rebounds.

Barrington (10-12, 5-3) was led by Megan Talbot (9 points) and Auri Grayson (6).

Fremd will look to clinch the MSL West outright on Tuesday when it plays host to Schaumburg (14-8, 5-2).

Niles North 64, Maine West 62 (OT): Niles North avenged a 62-39 loss in Des Plaines in the first round of CSL North play to hand the visiting Warriors (17-7, 7-1) their first league loss.

The game was tied at 47-47 after regulation and the Vikings outscored West 15-13 in the extra four minutes.

Freshman Rachel Kent led the Warriors with 17 points (and West's only 3-pointer) followed by Allison Pearson (10) and Catherine Johnson (8).

Niles North senior guard Olivia Shaps scored 17 of her game-high 19 points in the second half and OT.

Niles North, which trailed 32-22 at half, connected on seven 3-pointers, including three from Stephanie Donado (13 points) and two from Alyssa Aragon (17 points).