Glenbard North throws scare into Naperville Central

Going into its regular-season finale at Glenbard North Thursday night, Naperville Central figured it would not have a particularly difficult time getting past the Panthers and keeping pace with Wheaton North for the DuPage Valley Conference title.

And one look at the final score - the Redhawks won 71-50 - would indicate such. But Glenbard North, winner of just five games all season, gave the Redhawks everything they could handle through three quarters.

Carson Jones, who had all of her 9 points in the third quarter, hit a 3 with 1:49 left that put Glenbard North within 1 point of the Redhawks. But Erin Antony nailed a 3-pointer from the corner just before the buzzer to give Naperville Central a 51-46 advantage going into the fourth quarter.

Then the Redhawks turned it on in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Panthers, 20-4. Up to that point, Glenbard North was red-hot from the field, hitting 18 of 35 through three quarters and 12 of 25 in the first half.

"I'll tell you what: There isn't a team in the country that's won five games that shot as well as they shot the first three quarters," said Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum. "Unbelievable."

Naperville Central defeated the Panthers 55-37 on Jan. 16, but as Nussbaum noted, "They didn't shoot like this the first time."

However, the Redhawks (24-5, 12-2) enjoyed a good night offensively, too. All five starters scored in double figures, as Emma Ondik led the way with 17 points, while Jill D'Amico netted 16 - including a three early in the fourth quarter that put the game out of reach. Emma Donahue chipped in with 14. Antony and Claire Fleming each finished with 11.

"Going into halftime in the locker room, we were just talking about how they were staying with us the whole first half," D'Amico said, "but we weren't going to let that happen because we had to win this game in order to get first place in the DVC."

Fellow DVC leader Wheaton North (16-9, 11-2) won a close call Thursday, 34-33 at Glenbard East. Lauren Graham scored off an offensive rebound with under 10 seconds to left. Fantasia Vine scored 17 points for the Falcons, who host Wheaton Warrenville South tonight.

But the Redhawks are guaranteed at least a tie for the DVC crown even if the Falcons knock off the Tigers. It's the 11th time that Naperville Central has either won or shared the DVC title in the 22 seasons Nussbaum has been the Redhawks' coach.

"I'm really proud of our girls," Nussbaum said. "I told one of our assistants before the game, 'If you had told me when (Catherine) Tanck got hurt (earlier in the season) that we'd have a chance to be co-champions going into the last game, I would have taken it."

Glenbard North, which finished the regular season 5-23 (2-12 DVC), tied the game on two occasions - 12-12 in the first quarter on a 3 by freshman Amy Falson, and 40-40 midway through the third quarter on senior Amoni Reynolds' three-point play.

"We got some shots to fall," Glenbard North coach John Chamberlain said. "Unfortunately you always talk about getting stops at the appropriate time, and as well as we shot, they shot lights out. I just told the girls, 'That's a good team that does that.' That's not an abnormality for them. Tip your hat to them. They just shot the ball really well and they're tough to stop. But I was really pleased with our effort on both ends."

Reynolds - playing her final home game - led the Panthers with 14 points.

"She's been a great player for us since she's been here," Chamberlain said. "She's going to play at the next level. She wants it, she's what you need in every program, and we've been fortunate enough to have her."

The Panthers begin play in the West Chicago regional at 7:30 Monday night vs. Addison Trail. The Redhawks host their own regional and will take on the winner of Monday's Downers South-Plainfield East game on Tuesday.