Liston, Fenwick KO Glenbard West

Dave Power has coached many great players in 18 years at Fenwick.

None can score better than Tricia Liston.

The Duke-bound senior became Fenwick's all-time leading scorer Friday night, scoring 41 points in a 77-33 win over Glenbard West in the Class 4A Fenwick regional final in Oak Park.

"(Dr. James) Naismith intended for the ball to be put in the basket," Power said, "and Tricia learned that at a very early age. She's a pretty special player. Players like that don't come along too often."

No. 1 seed Fenwick (28-3) moves on to play Proviso East in Tuesday's Lake Park sectional semifinal.

With her 11th point Friday, Liston passed 2000 Fenwick graduate Katie O'Grady's career total. Liston is now at 2,566. Liston's 41 points were 2 shy of her career-high 43, set against St. Joseph's (Mo.) at this year's McDonald's Shootout.

"With all the great players that have come through Fenwick before," said Liston, who also had 11 rebounds and 5 assists, "I never thought about it.

"It's a cool thing to have accomplished in your four years at a high school with the history of the girls basketball that we have here at Fenwick."

No. 9 seed Glenbard West (17-13), in its first regional final since 2006, came out in a matchup zone but switched to man midway through the first quarter with 5-foot-7 guard Bridget Flanagan checking Liston and the other Hilltoppers in a "soft" man.

Neither approach had an answer for Liston's knack for finding holes in a defense, getting to the basket and making shots from all angles.

"She's crafty around the basket," Glenbard West coach Mike Hofland said, "and knows how to use her body. That's why she's going to Duke. It's hard to put a post on her because she'll come outside. You put a guard on her, she uses her body well."

Glenbard West actually trailed just 18-14 seconds into the second quarter after an Abbey White score, and the margin was at 9 with a minute left in the half.

But Fenwick pushed it to 33-20 by halftime, and things got out of hand in the third quarter. After an 18-point first half, Liston exploded for 19 in the third quarter.

"We lost our composure," Hofland said. "We got a little nervous. It happens in big games."

Seniors Abby Hastings had 10 points and White 9 for Glenbard West.