Vernon Hills handles Lakes

One of Paul Brettner's kids ran fast on a basketball court, reached and grabbed.

Nolan Brettner, 2½ and already a big sibling, clutched his daddy's leg and held tightly.

Similarly, Brettner's other “kids” ran fast, grabbed (rebounds) and held tightly during Vernon Hills' 62-46 win over host Lakes in a North Suburban Prairie Division girls basketball game in Lake Villa on Saturday.

Freshmen Lauren Webb and Sydney Smith and sophomore Meri Bennett-Swanson each posted a double-double for the Cougars. Webb led all scorers with a season-high 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Smith tallied a season-best 15 points and chased down 11 boards, and Bennett-Swanson checked in with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Brettner, whose wife, Stacie, and their 6-month-old daughter, Reagan, were also in attendance, is enjoying being surrounded by the Cougars' youth.

“I'm used to it,” said Vernon Hills' coach, grinning.

Vernon Hills moved to 6-1 and 3-0 in the NSC Prairie, and its newcomers have been a big reason for the team's success. The 6-foot Webb and the 5-10 Smith have known each other since the sixth grade, and their familiarity with each other on the court is clear. Webb opened the scoring against Lakes (2-3, 0-1) with a layup after Smith fed her in the post.

Webb sank a 3-pointer late in the opening half after another Smith pass.

“We're so used to playing with each other,” Webb said.

“And plus,” Smith said, “it's a lot easier to run plays to each other because the team works so well together.”

Smith also sank a 3 and finished with 4 assists, as well as 4 steals and 3 blocks. Webb had 4 blocked shots, 3 assists and 2 steals.

“They played in our feeder league so it's not like they're a secret or anything,” Brettner said. “From the beginning of the season until now they've really taken steps, have worked hard everyday, and have just really come along.”

Lakes got the first of two 3-pointers by Katie Brinser (team-best 13 points, 7 steals, 4 rebounds) to pull within 15-12 early in the second quarter, but Vernon Hills closed the half with a 23-8 run to lead 38-20 at the break.

“Our team's offense was pretty good,” Webb said. “We had very good passing, very nice assists down into the post, and that's all we needed.”

“We had a lot of in-and-outs and we were working together,” Smith added.

The score was 8-8 midway through the first quarter when Lakes' 5-11 sophomore Terese McMahon picked up her third foul and went to the bench for the rest of the half.

“That hurt us,” Lakes coach Pete Schneider said. “We did not do a good job of boxing out.”

McMahon, who came into the game averaging a team-best 14.3 points per game, still finished with 9 points. Ashlee Cunningham and Evan Morris each added eight for the Eagles.

“We just never got into any offensive sync at all,” Schneider said. “We just could not run an offense well. We thought attacking with the ball meant dribbling.”

Vernon Hills also got solid games from guards Abby Springer (6 points, 3 steals) and Julie Pecht (5 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals).

After the game, Lakes' players were headed to Chicago to watch Blue Man Group.

“Too bad we're feeling blue,” Schneider said.