Big run lifts Schaumburg past Palatine
Schaumburg bolted out to an early 12-0 advantage during the first four minutes on Friday night in its Mid-Suburban West girls basketball contest against visiting Palatine.
The visiting Pirates returned fire going on a 9-3 run to pull within 6 at 15-9 with 6:50 to play in the first half.
The next Saxons scoring spurt, however, was too much for Palatine.
On the strength of a 24-2 run that spanned the remaining 6:35 of the first half and the opening 1:36 of the second, the Saxons pulled away with a 50-29 triumph.
"We really did a nice job defensively out there," Schaumburg coach Curtis Goodwin said. "We had a lot energy on both ends and it showed."
On the defensive side, the Saxons (5-3, 2-0) held Palatine to only 20 percent shooting (8-for-39) from the field, including 0-for-13 from 3-point range. Schaumburg also forced 19 turnovers.
"Our focus was on being able to outhustle them, which was what we were able to do," said Schaumburg junior forward Mallory Gerber, who had 10 of her game-high 16 points during the game-turning surge. "We keep working hard to push ourselves to the next step which makes you feel good in having successfully accomplished that goal."
Aiding in the effort for Schaumburg was senior guard Paige Alt.
The College Of Coastal Georgia-bound all-MSL and all-area softball selection last spring added 12 points on four 3-pointers, including a halftime buzzer-beater to make the score 33-11 at the locker room break.
"We're in a good place right now," Goodwin said. "We look ahead to the challenges ahead, needing to continue the effort that we've had so far."
The Saxons have road games at South Elgin on Saturday and Bartlett on Tuesday before an MSL West home matchup with Barrington next Friday.
The Pirates (3-5, 0-2) travel to Hampshire for a Saturday matinee before returning home to face Stevenson on Tuesday and Hoffman Estates on Friday.
Pirates senior center Sarah Udoni led the way with 7 points against Schaumburg, and sophomore guard Tiana Henderson had 6.