Wrap: Wheeling, BG, Maine W., girls win

Ashley Wilson came into Friday only 11 points shy of 1,000 for her career, but she was too preoccupied trying to beat constant double- and triple-teams to notice.

With her team struggling through a rough first half, Wilson took the Wheeling girls basketball team on her shoulders and led them to a 54-42 Mid Suburban East win over Hersey.

"I didn't even know I was close (to the milestone)," Wilson (22 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals) said. "I knew I should have gotten it this season but I didn't know that I was going to get it this early in the season. It feels good, plus the fact that we won makes it feel even better."

Hersey (3-8, 1-3) opened the game, which was moved from Wheeling because of a leaky gym roof, with more energy and finished the first quarter up 12-10.

Playing a 2-3 zone, Hersey tried to limit Wilson with Illinois-bound Lana Rukavina missing her second straight game with leg soreness.

"Our defense was basically focused on the post and I think we did a good job of that," said Huskie senior Sarah Stoltzner (5 points, 5 rebounds). "(Wilson is) very strong so she's going to get the ball and she's going to score. We don't have size like her."

Wilson scored 7 points during a 9-2 run to give the Wildcats (13-2, 3-1) a 5-point lead, but Hersey scored the final 7 points to take a 22-21 lead into halftime. Freshman Megan Rogowski scored 12 of her 20 points in the first half for the Huskies.

"Hersey was doing some things well and I thought we just weren't really committed to defense," Wheeling coach Shelly Wiegel said. "There were parts of the game where you could probably tell it was our third game of the week. So we were a little flat and maybe a little slow to recover and that definitely hurt us."

The Wildcats opened the third quarter on an 8-2 run while forcing Hersey into 6 turnovers in the period.

A 3-point play by Janelle Cannon (17 points, 5 steals, 4 rebounds) with 2:12 left in the third gave Wheeling the lead for good.

The Wildcats outscored Hersey 17-8 in the final period, but didn't pull away until the final two minutes.

Bianca Szafarowicz scored 9 for Wheeling. Hersey got 7 points from Kelly Rogowski and 6 from Julia Fredian.

BG 67, Meadows 33: Coming into Friday night's contest against Rolling Meadows, Buffalo Grove was hoping there would be few surprises.

After all, coming into the game with an undefeated record, BG was hoping to take care of business and pick up another MSL East victory before next week's Dundee-Crown Charger Classic.

While the Bison effectively wore down the Mustangs (3-10, 0-4) with swarming defense en route to a 67-33 victory, the surprise Friday night was BG (13-0, 4-0) may be even more talented than most think.

While senior captains Maggie and Allison Mocchi, as well as Ellen Ayoub effectively controlled much of the game for BG, the bench demonstrated it is far more than a senior-powered team.

Freshmen KC Dunne (12 points) and Kelly Mahoney (6) each contributed to the Bison effort off the bench, keeping pace with teammates and opponents two or three years their senior.

"In the past we've always been five or six deep, but that's not the case this year," BG coach Tom Dineen said. "I thought Kelly Mahoney gave us a lot of good things off the bench. And KC is instant offense for us as well."

After going on a 20-0 run in the first quarter to take a 22-point lead, Dineen was able to rest his starters and let his bench display its talent.

"It's really exciting to play with older people," said Mahoney.

For Dunne, who connected successfully on four 3-point baskets, this summer's hard work is starting to pay off.

"(My shooting) has come from this summer practicing hard and working on my form," Dunne said.

While the performance of the freshmen displayed the Bison's depth, Maggie Mocchi led the way with a game-high 19 points, 7 rebounds and 7 steals.

"I've played with most of these girls for four years already," Mocchi said. "We have a lot of team chemistry on and off the court and it really helps us.

"We just go out there and play our game and don't think about who we are playing and what the score is."

Dineen is hoping his team is ready for next week's tournament challenge.

"We've had four tough tests so far this season and we've passed all four," Dineen said. "For six of our girls (the Dundee-Crown Tournament) is their last chance to come away with a championship there. We'd like to make that happen."

For Meadows, despite 25 turnovers, coach Patrick O'Connell was happy with his team's effort, specifically in terms of rebounding.

"I was very pleased with how we battled on the boards," O'Connell said. "(BG) are good shooters and when they miss we didn't give them a lot of second chances, so I was very happy with that."

-- Dan Hyman

Maine W. 59, Maine E. 31: Mary Kusner (17 points) Erin Baumstark (13 points, 6 assists), Brittany Begrowicz (13 points, 6 assists) and Ellen Coogan (10 rebounds, 6 points) led the Warriors (11-2, 5-0) in the Central Suburban North contest in Des Plaines.

Senior Colleen Vana collected 8 points and 5 assists while Kelsey Hargesheimer added 6 rebounds.

Warriors starting sophomore guard Samantha Acosta will be sidelined for three weeks with a broken hand while senior guard Nicole Eisenburg was sidelined by an ankle injury.

Hoffman 62, McHenry 39: Junior Megan Fischer (22 points, 9 rebounds), Jada Stotts (8 rebounds, 4 steals, 5 points), Megan Bernardoni (7 rebounds, 4 steals, 4 points) and Carol King (7 points, 4 assists) led the Hawks (10-5, 3-0) in their third game of the McHenry tourney.

Two wins today would give Hoffman the title.

The Hawks play Marian Central (also 3-0) at noon today and then face Rockford East at 4:30 p.m.