Wheaton North tournament roundup

Hersey coach Mary Fendley asked for a little rebounding and leadership from her Huskies. What they gave Wheaton North was a nasty press.

The Huskies used that press to force 12 third-quarter turnovers and come from behind to defeat host Wheaton North 56-41 at the Bill Neibch Falcon Holiday Tournament.

"Ironically, I'd asked them to start running the press halfway through the second quarter and I guess someone forgot," Fendley said. "I guess it worked out well because they didn't have time to discuss it at halftime."

The unseeded Falcons led No. 3 Hersey 23-20 at halftime and by 7 early in the third quarter. Then all of a sudden, nothing worked right for the Falcons.

"We just didn't execute," Wheaton North coach David Eaton said. "We had them, a 7-point lead. ... Yesterday Glenbrook South pressed us and we did fine. Today we didn't execute. That's what it comes down to."

The Huskies turned the turnovers into easy baskets, scoring 11 straight points to take a 31-27 lead midway through the third quarter. Hersey piled up 18 points in each of the final two periods.

"The third and fourth quarter we just gave up too many points," Eaton said. "We gave up 36 points in the second half, and you're not going to win many games if you're giving up 18 points a quarter, so we have to do a better job defensively of finding shooters, and we gave up way too many offensive rebounds tonight."

Megan Rogowski poured in 22 points for the Huskies (9-3), and Julia Fredian added 12. Andrea Perkins added solid defense on Wheaton North point guard Fantasia Vine until Perkins left the game late due to injury, with Kari Tunney filling in.

"Her defense on Vine I think was the key," Fendley said of Perkins.

"Wheaton North is a really good team," Fendley added. "Their record is a little deceptive as far as I know they weren't at full strength the whole season, so we're really happy to come out with a win against a good team and happy to be in the final four at this tournament."

Hersey will meet Mid-Suburban League rival Elk Grove in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Wheaton North takes on Jacobs at 3 p.m.

"We were were right there, a 7-point lead," Eaton said, "so I think it shows we can play with them. Now we just have to do better and come in and play a full 32 minutes."

Elk Grove 51, Jacobs 43: Hoping to see more accurate free-throw shooting from his team, Elk Grove coach Ryan Kirkorsky had his players practicing the 15-foot shots in the school gymnasium Monday before heading to Wheaton North.

Sure enough, it was free throws that ended up making the difference when the Grenadiers stopped Jacobs 51-43 in the quarterfinals of the Bill Neibch Falcon Classic.

The Grens (11-2) led by as many as 14 points in the second half, but Jacobs (9-3) closed to within 45-40 on senior Katy Cook's layup with 1:53 left.

Elk Grove made 6 straight free throws in the final 1:25 - 2 apiece from senior Courtney Lindfors, freshman Kelly Naughton and senior Meaghan Amann - to seal the verdict.

The No. 2-seeded Grenadiers will face No. 3 Hersey (9-3) for the second time this season in today's 6 p. m. semifinal. Hersey posted a 48-37 victory in Arlington Heights three weeks ago.

Jacobs (9-3) will face Wheaton North (5-6) at 3 p.m. today in the consolation bracket.

Elk Grove was led by all-area forward Ashley Capotosto, who scored 19 points with 9 rebounds and 3 steals.

"We'd been practicing free throws a lot and that's what won the game for us," Capotosto said. "Jacobs runs its offense very well and we knew they'd try to set a lot of double screens for 3-point shots. I thought we did a good job contesting those."

Grens sophomore guard Dani Goranson chipped in 10 points with a pair of big 3-pointers in the second quarter and Olivia Roback added 8 points with 6 assists.

Lindfors played a little more than a half because of foul trouble.

She picked up her second foul with 2:56 left in the first quarter and her third at the 6:59 mark of the third quarter.

At the end of the first half, Kirkorsky went with a lineup of Naughton, Goranson, Roback, Amann, Leah Miller and Maggie Fries for quite a bit of time.

"I thought that group did a real nice job," the coach said. "Jacobs was a tough team. We had three really tough matchups with them.

"One key was Kelly Naughton. She did an excellent job defensively. She made some big free throws down the stretch and she handled their pressure well."

Capotosto was back after missing the Grens' last two games with an eye infection.

"She had a lot of energy and she was strong," Kirkorsky said of the school's all-time leading scorer.

Jacobs, which owned its last lead at 15-14 when Sierra Dunner hit 2 free throws late in the first quarter, was led by seniors Maria Tamburrino (13 points) and Hailey Cnota (12).

"I'm proud of our kids," said Golden Eagles coach Ed Haugens. "If you noticed the number of layups and free throws (8 of 14) we missed and we lose by only 7 points to one of the top team in the area, that's not bad. We didn't back down at all. And that's the thing that makes me most proud."

St. Charles East 44, Lyons 30: Surprised that St. Charles East is in the semis at Wheaton North?

The Saints aren't. Nobody watching them the last three weeks should be.

Two nights after upsetting No. 1 seed Hinsdale Central, unseeded St. Charles East led from start to finish in beating No. 8 Lyons Township 44-30 at the Bill Neibch Falcon Holiday Classic.

"I don't think we're surprised," said senior guard Lexi Baltes, who had 15 points and 5 steals, "but we're certainly excited to be in the semis. I don't think anybody else expected us to be here, but we believe in our potential. That's what is getting us places."

Since a 2-4 start, St. Charles East (9-4) has reeled off seven straight wins. The last four came since the tournament was seeded. At Wheaton North the top eight teams are seeded, and the rest are determined by a blind draw. A team that starts five seniors coming off a 17-win season looks like anything but the best of the rest.

"We had a little team conference (after we were 2-4), we talked just as a team what we're about," said senior forward Kala Sigona, "and what these seniors can bring as a team. We talked about the experience and leadership that we needed to be competitive in big tournaments."

After needing a late rally to beat Hinsdale Central, the Saints set the tone from the opening tip Monday. St. Charles East led 10-4 after a quarter, repeatedly beating Lions' pressure.

Up 12-11 midway through the second quarter, the Saints peeled off a 7-0 run to end the the half. A Steph Roan 3-pointer started things and two stickbacks by Sigona (10 points, 5 rebounds) finished it.

"We're doing a better job on the boards right now," Saints coach Lori Drumtra said, "and doing a better job inside overall. Our perimeter has always been pretty strong. This year with Kara (Schnier) and Kala we have added strength inside. It just took them a little while to get going."

With Sigona and Schnier sitting with foul trouble, Lyons (5-6) pulled within 29-25 after the third quarter. A Jaime Rust baseline drive and Schnier free throw pushed the lead back to seven, and Baltes picked a Lyons' players pocket and fed Roan for a breakaway to make it 34-25.

Baltes then hit a pair of back-breaking 3-pointers for a 40-30 lead with 4:11 left.

"I think that shows the seniority of this team," Baltes said, "the way we answered their run. That helps in pressure situations. We know how to handle ourselves and stay composed."

Next up for St. Charles East is a showdown with Upstate Eight rival Waubonsie Valley - who the Saints don't play in conference until February. No. 4 seed Waubonsie beat Downers Grove North 47-24 Monday, forcing 32 turnovers.

"They're an incredibly athletic team - we're going to have a challenge," Drumtra said. "With our three perimeter players, our ballhandlers (pressure) doesn't make me feel uncomfortable. Most teams have one ballhandler. I feel like we have three. But we're definitely going to have our work cut out for us."

Waubonsie Valley 47, Downers North 24: Asked what the difference is in Waubonsie Valley's pressure defense this year under new coach Kim Connell, Keiera Ray didn't hesitate.

"As soon as the ball goes through the net," said the Warriors sophomore, "we're right up in people's face ready for them, trying to get them to turn the ball over. It gives us a chance to get fast baskets."

Ray and the Warriors were at their swarming best Monday, overwhelming Downers Grove North 47-24 in the second round of the Bill Neibch Falcon Holiday Classic at Wheaton North.

Ray had 5 of Waubonsie's dizzying total of 28 steals. Tanysha Walls had 6, Erica Jordan 5 and Becky Williford 4. Twenty-four of Waubonsie's points came in transition.

"I don't think they were ready for our pressure," Ray said, "and I don't think they knew how to adjust to it."

No. 4 seed Waubonsie (11-1) led 27-17 a minute into the third quarter - then put the game out of reach with a 14-0 run. Ray and Tami Morice fastbreak baskets ignited things, and Walls scored off a Williford steal to push the lead to 38-17. A Walls 3-pointer made it 41-17 a minute into the fourth.

"We did a great job of not letting them run anything they wanted to run," Connell said. "We're gradually working our fullcourt pressure in. I was happy with the way it worked tonight."

Madeline Boltin scored 6 points for fifth-seeded Downers Grove North (10-4), held to its lowest point total of the season. The Trojans faced pressure in wins over Joliet and Lyons Twp. - but not quite like Waubonsie's.

"We've seen really aggressive teams," Trojans coach Leslie Dehn said, "but not that constant fullcourt. They were disciplined, athletic and a very deep team. Our kids played hard. They just couldn't get the ball to drop."

Walls scored 11 points, Morice 9 and Williford 8 for Waubonsie, one win away from returning to the championship game. Awaiting is St. Charles East, which upset top seed - and Waubonsie nemesis - Hinsdale Central in Saturday's first round.

"We're kind of upset, because we actually wanted to play them (Hinsdale Central) in the tournament," Ray said with a smile. "But we'll be up for any challenge."

Orrin Schwarz, John Leusch and Josh Welge contributed