Glenbard East matches last season's win total

One of five sophomores on last year's varsity girls basketball squad, Glenbard East guard Lauren Huber and her teammates experienced some growing pains while wins were hard to come by for the Rams.

But things are looking up for Huber and Glenbard East. Thursday's 58-39 defeat of Oak Forest at Sandburg's Holiday Shootout allowed the 8-6 Rams to equal the win total from all of last winter. Huber led all scorers in the game with 24 points and added 6 steals as the Rams turned a 30-30 tie in the third quarter into a 19-point victory.

Glenbard East made 9 of 11 shots in the first quarter and led by as many as 15 points in the second quarter before the Bengals drew even at 30-30 following a 3-pointer by Lexie Matthews with 5:08 left in the third quarter.

But that's when Huber went on a rampage on both ends of the court and sparked a 9-0 run. That bumped the Rams' lead back up to 44-33 before Oak Forest guard Rachel Balinao closed the third quarter with a 3.

"I think we started off strong, right, including Emily (Ryan) getting a charge in the first seven seconds so that was good momentum to start the game," Huber said. "Then we settled in ... but then later we were able to get some steals and pull away from that 30-30 score."

Huber started the impactful 9-0 surge in the third quarter with a basket that she followed with a steal and a bucket, which she converted into a three-point play after she was fouled driving to the rim. She then assisted on a short jumper by Ryan - another junior who played on last year's 8-24 varsity team - and again picked the pocket of a Bengal ballhandler and finished on the other end. In just over a minute of play, Huber tallied seven points and assisted on two more as the Rams retook command of the game.

"They had a good run, and when they tied it up you've just got to sort of keep your composure," Glenbard East coach Nicole Miller said. "When they tied it up Lauren got a couple steals and separated things, so very quickly it was 39-30 and then we had to keep the momentum."

Once the Rams were back on top, their defense and rebounding protected the lead as they drew even in the tourney at 1-1.

Earlier on Thursday, host Sandburg defeated Glenbard East 47-30. In the win over the Bengals, Ryan added 16 points and also led the team with 9 rebounds, with Huber and Lisa Stranski each pulling in 6 rebounds.

"I think we were coming off a hot start, but once it was 30-30 our team really had to step up and go and we got those pivotal plays, the steals," said Ryan, a 5-foot-11 forward. "We had the good, solid defense, and I like to pride myself on rebounding and being strong down low."

Oak Forest freshman Janae Kent had three baskets in the first quarter, but Glenbard East's defense limited her to just one more field goal over the final three quarters as Kent finished with 9 points and 7 rebounds.

Glenbard East picked up strong play down low on both sides of the court from the likes of Stranski, Aubrey Wendorff and Denise Navar. The 6-1 Navar had a pair of blocks off the bench and Wendorff chipped in 6 points and 3 offensive rebounds.