Redhawks win with mind games

Thank goodness for second chances, along with the mental toughness to help them come along.

That was the message the Naperville Central's girls basketball team offered up after the Redhawks escaped with a 66-59 DuPage Valley Conference victory over visiting West Aurora (5-12, 2-5) Saturday afternoon.

The Blackhawks jumped out to a 9-0 lead, led 29-22 after holding Redhawks leading scorer Kelley Hendrick without a field goal in the first half, then built the lead to 10 points at 32-22 early in the third quarter following a driving basket by forward Kiara Towles, who finished her big afternoon with 16 points and 21 rebounds.

But Naperville Central (10-9, 5-2) kept the game tight for three quarters despite Hendrick's off night from the floor and then busted out for 33 points in the final period - equaling its scoring output through three quarters. Trailing 39-33 after three quarters, the determined Redhawks pulled the game out after Hendrick nailed a trio of 3s in the final quarter and Catherine Tanck, Claire Fleming and Liz Crissy pounded the offensive glass.

"Today actually coach (Andy) Nussbaum said our goal was to be mentally tough," said Fleming, who had 8 points and 12 boards. "We had some rough patches, but everyone just wanted to win so bad."

Eight of Fleming's rebounds came on the offensive end, while Tanck and Crissy combined to deliver 8 more second possessions. These second chances were critical for a Redhawks squad that shot just 7 of 34 in the first half and didn't take its first lead until Hendrick's 3-pointer with 6:03 left made it a 43-42 game.

"Those second chances come from extra effort and determination and that's what won the game for us," Fleming said.

But West Aurora was not done fighting even after its 10-point lead had been erased. Briannica Tye single-handedly tried to keep the Blackhawks alive by scoring 12 of her team-high 20 points in the final quarter. After a Hendrick 3 gave Naperville Central a 54-52 lead with 2:54 remaining, Tye responded with a 12-foot jumper to tie the game.

But the visitors couldn't compete down the stretch as Hendrick hit another 3-pointer and made good on 13 of 14 foul shots in the game to finish with 24 points. Even after Crissy missed a long jumper with one minute left and West Aurora ahead 59-58, it was an offensive rebound by Fleming that set up Crissy for a 2-point basket and a 60-59 lead that the hosts would not relinquish.

"We kinda fell asleep a few times, and I think we got a little tired at the end," Blackhawks coach Connie Siljendahl said. "They had a lot (of offensive rebounds) and those second chances are what got us."

Nussbaum, whose team is in the thick of the DVC race, was happy to see his girls gut out a tight victory for a change. After all, they took to the floor with a 1-8 mark in games decided by 7 points or less.

"I think we took some big steps toward mental toughness," he said. "It was good for us to be in a tough game and to hang in there. As a group we showed some toughness today."