Glenbard South at its best against Batavia

Glenbard South made its final Western Sun Conference home game a memorable one, playing perhaps its best game of the season in a 60-39 victory over Batavia on Friday night in Glen Ellyn.

"It's toward the end of the season, and we really have to step it up here," Glenbard South senior Maggie Norton said. "We're trying to reach a goal of 20 wins, so we're really playing hard, and obviously tonight really showed that."

The Raiders (15-9, 10-3), in second place in their soon-to-disband conference, came back from an early deficit to take a 30-25 lead at halftime. A Tess DiIorio jumper midway through the third quarter gave them a 10-point lead, and they took off from there.

It was as clean a game as the Raiders have played. They committed just 7 turnovers and registered assists on 16 of 25 field goals. Nevena Markovic, a 6-foot-4 junior, led the way with 5 assists to go with her team-best 14 points and 13 rebounds. Norton, called on to make a rare start, came through with 12 points and 5 rebounds, and junior Sarah Engelhardt added 9 points and 9 rebounds.

"The opportunity to play comes and you just want to try your best and play really hard," said Norton, a 5-11 forward, "so I did."

"Maggie's been working hard on her footwork in the post all year, and it's kind of finally coming together for her," Raiders coach Julie Fonda said, "and that's great to see a senior reap the benefits of her hard work in practice. I'm really happy for her."

The Raiders scored 15 points in each quarter, but as efficient as they were offensively, the Raiders played just as well defensively, holding Batavia (11-11, 6-6) to just 26 percent shooting on the night, 12 percent after halftime.

"In the second half we just didn't score enough at all," Batavia coach Tim DeBruycker said. "The shots weren't going in. You can't put 14 points on the board in a half against a team like this and expect to win."

Senior Sara Fruendt led Batavia with 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.

"Sara came out just a little more offensively aggressive tonight than she has in the past," DeBruycker said. "She's been on the varsity for three years. She knows when she has to step up in big games, and she played a real nice first half. We didn't get her the ball enough in the second half."

Center Kelsey Stone added 11 points for Batavia.