Warren chalks season-best 149
The Warren girls gymnastics team has put forth plenty of effort in practice.
The Blue Devils' hard work yielded positive results again Wednesday night, as they hit their season-best score with a 149 in getting past Stevenson 146.55 in a North Suburban Conference meet in Lincolnshire.
Not that the team is satisfied.
"We can still go higher," Warren coach Carrie Parker said. "There's always room for improvement.
"We've been doing a lot of numbers and routines. We do five of everything and now it's make five or start over. It makes things more challenging for the girls. We talk about falling and how to fall."
Warren seems to be peaking at the right time. The NSC meet is Saturday at 1 p.m. at Libertyville, and the state series starts with regionals on Monday night. Warren will host at Lakes.
"It will give them confidence going into the conference meet," Parker said of the 149. "Hopefully we're peaking."
The Blue Devils' Kacie Holop earned the top spot on floor with a season-best 9.75.
"I hit the first pass and it meant a lot for the routine," Holop said. "I picked things up after that."
Teammate Kim Gotlund won beam (9.45), tied Stevenson's Chelsie Seplowin for third on floor (9.6) and finished second in the all around (37.70).
Warren's Chelsea Youngberg finished third on vault (9.55), and Katie Vovolka tied for second with Seplowin on beam (9.3).
Seplowin chalked up a career-best 38.2 all-around score. She also earned a winning 9.7 on vault, sticking the Yurchenko pike she's been working on for months.
"The whole summer I worked on my technique so I could get it right," said Seplowin, who notched a 9.6 (second place) on bars.
"I know the skills will come. I just want to focus on the things that will help out right now. All I can do is get better."
The Patriots' Stephanie Wojton earned top honors on bars with a 9.65. She placed second on vault (9.6) and floor (9.7), and was third in the all around (37.65).
"We've been working hard in practice and we add 3-4 new things everyday," Wojton said.
Stevenson also chalked its season-best score, and the Patriots think they can go even higher. They had an uncharacteristic 34.25 on beam.
"I know we can do better," Stevenson coach Judy Harwood said. "The girls are progressing nicely. What's nice is that we're making slow, steady progress. The scores are going up and we're getting better."
-- Rusty Silber
Boys basketball
Grayslake C. 44, CLC 40: Now that's balanced scoring.
The Rams rallied for the Fox Valley Conference Fox Division win as four players -- Mike Brumm, Alex Anderson, Mike Davis and Andrew Sipes -- each scored 10 points.
Grayslake Central (12-5, 2-1) trailed 30-27 after three quarters. Brumm scored 8 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, in the fourth.
Crystal Lake Central (10-9, 1-2) received 12 points from Matt Flood and 11 from Carson Sterchi.
PR 47, Grayslake N. 44: The visiting Knights led the Fox Valley Fox game 16-12 after one quarter and 29-24 at halftime, but got outscored 23-15 in the second half, including 16-11 in the fourth.
It was the fourth loss by 3 or fewer points for Grayslake North (4-12, 0-2).
The Knights' Clay Henricksen led all scorers with 18 points.
Mike Ungari had 16 points for Prairie Ridge.
Girls basketball
Grayslake N. 66, Lakes 32: Elizabeth Phillips scored 19 points, as the Knights defeated the Eagles for the third time this season.
Grayslake North (10-12) also received 10 points apiece from Hilary Kuhl and Ali Vlahos. Lauren Erickson added 8 points and 5 rebounds. Phillips, Vlahos and Natalie Barczyk each sank two 3-pointers.
Keshia Cunningham had 12 points for Lakes (0-24), which trailed 19-4 after one quarter and 38-14 at halftime.