Redhawks' Fleming can't explain her big game

Claire Fleming spent last season on Naperville Central's junior varsity.

On Saturday, she led the varsity to victory.

The 5-foot-10 sophomore forward came off the bench and drained a career-high 18 points to spark the Redhawks to a 49-38 nonconference girls basketball triumph over host Neuqua Valley in Naperville.

Fleming couldn't explain her big game.

"I honestly couldn't tell you," she said. "I didn't have the best beginning of the season, but everybody said my day would come."

Both clubs struggled shooting in an up-and-down, physical affair that produced 59 free throws, but Fleming was the exception. She canned a pair of 3-pointers while going 6 for 8 from the field and 4 for 4 from the foul line.

"She's a water polo player, so she's willing to mix it up and get a little bit physical, which in this kind of game we really needed," Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum said. "This is really kind of her style of game. She played real well. She's been our sixth man all year, and she's obviously good enough to start on a lot of teams."

Naperville Central (8-2) took control in the second quarter with a 14-3 spree that vaulted the visitors ahead 23-16. Fleming scored 4 in the run, which was capped by 5 from Kelley Hendrick on a crashing drive and a 3-pointer.

Neuqua Valley (5-6) scored the final 5 points of the first half to pull within 23-21, but that's as close as the home team came the rest of the way.

Naperville Central saw three starters -- Jessica Carter, Lisa Lawrence and Hendrick -- pick up their third foul and go to the bench in the third quarter, but the Wildcats didn't take advantage of the situation as they committed 8 of their 25 turnovers in the frame.

The Redhawks took a 34-30 lead in the fourth quarter, then rode a 9-0 run to a 43-30 advantage.

Hendrick finished with 12 points and 4 assists.

Neuqua Valley received a team-high 12 points from freshman guard Danielle Davis.

It was the fifth loss in a row for the Wildcats.

"We had some energy at least, but we haven't been able to finish and that's an immature team," Neuqua Valley coach Mike Williams said. "That's youth. What are you going to do? Grin and bear it and see what happens."