Downers Grove N. zones into 40-35 win over Glenbard W.

There was no need for introductions Tuesday at Downers Grove North.

The Trojans and Glenbard West squared off again in a West Suburban Silver opener just four days after meeting in the Glenbard East tournament.

History did not repeat itself on this night.

After losing the first meeting by 17 points, Downers North turned to a zone defense and delivered a strong stretch run to beat Glenbard West 40-35 this time.

"The difference was the zone," said Glenbard West coach Mike Hofland, who saw his club win 45-28 last Saturday but then watched it commit 25 turnovers in the rematch. "We knew they were going to do something different. We just didn't handle it very well."

Downers North coach Darrin Travillian said his squad had to try a zone to give itself a chance against the taller Hilltoppers (3-4, 0-1).

"The irony is I don't love that, but it was sort of out of necessity," Travillian said.

Travillian told his team the conference opener provided a fresh start.

"We also talked about players make plays and quitters don't," he said. "We didn't quit on a single possession. We found ways to keep making plays on both ends of the floor."

The Trojans (3-3, 1-0) scored the game's last 8 points over the final 4:08.

Glenbard West matched its biggest lead in the tight contest when Kathryn Lux scored inside to give her team a 35-32 edge with 5:32 remaining.

But then Downers North began its charge.

Freshman Niki Sebo made one of her 7 steals and turned it into a lay-in to bring the Trojans within 35-34. They moved ahead 36-35 when Missy Blazej inbounded the ball to Kristi Koszewski for a layup with 1:55 to play.

Then Blazej scored on a drive down the left side to make it 38-35 with 33.7 seconds left.

Glenbard West missed a pair of 3-point attempts after that before Blazej sealed the victory by making both ends of a 1-and-1 with 1.9 seconds to go.

"I realized I needed to step up and try to lead my team as best as I could," said Blazej, a junior on a team with four freshmen.

"When she's making those plays, we can be really good," Travillian said. "She did the job tonight."

Sebo finished with 12 points and Blazej 11.

Lux led Glenbard West in scoring with 12. Nicole Hazemi registered 11 points and Abby Hastings 10.