Vernon Hills' win is loud and clear

Fireworks right from the start.

The national anthem at the girls basketball game between Vernon Hills and Mundelein Wednesday suddenly stopped playing. It didn't stop the girls' teams. They promptly sang the rest of words.

"I credit Kylie Bunning for getting that started," Vernon Hills coach Paul Brettner said.

Fireworks again at the start of the game.

Three different Cougars hit 3-pointers in a frantic first quarter of the Libertyville Winter tournament.

And Abby Brown closed the quarter with one of those shots you see on TV. Heave it up from downtown, and swish it went.

"No, I didn't think it would go in," Brown said. "All my teammates came out on floor and cheered me on. Yes, I wish it would count for four points."

Vernon Hills (10-5, 2-1 tournament) played without its girl in the middle, Kayla Caudle (mission trip to Haiti), and still survived the Mustangs' Morgan Frank (15 points, 9 rebounds, 5 steals, 4 blocks) to grab a 44-32 win.

"I told the girls that one person can't replace Kayla," Brettner said. "The rest of them gave a great effort."

One of the players stepping up in Caudle's absence was Emily Singer. She had no points at halftime but started with a flurry in the second half. She started with a flip shot after the Cougars held a 21-15 halftime lead. She rang up a pair of 3-pointers. Her ninth point opened the fourth-quarter scoring and Vernon Hills was up 39-22.

"We knew without Kayla, we had to work together," Singer said. "Mundelein was able to help themselves with their defensive rebounding."

Brettner was impressed with his team's spurt in the third quarter.

"We came out in that third quarter and did a nice job," he said. "Emily Singer did a heck of a job."

At halftime, Frank had 11 points. Kendall Klatt helped the Mustangs with 7 points and 8 rebounds.

For Vernon Hills, Piper Bedell checked with a team-high 10 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals. Daniella Jarrell had 7 points and 7 boards. Lauren Shores did her best to stop Frank's scoring and had 7 points and 4 rebounds.

Vernon Hills plays Niles West for third place at 1 p.m. Thursday. Mundelein (6-11, 1-2 tourney) takes on Cary-Grove at 10:30 a.m. for fifth place.