Hersey teams up to top Buffalo Grove

For three quarters, the Hersey and Buffalo Grove girls basketball teams seemed to forever be trading baskets and lead changes on Friday afternoon.

But then, the Huskies decided to trade in their style of play.

"I think we started playing good, team basketball," said Huskies senior forward Maggie Berigan. "We did not play well as a team in the first half."

A 3-pointer by Georgette Topalis (12 points) drew BG to within 41-39 in the final seconds of the third quarter.

However, the Huskies scored 13 unanswered points to begin the final period and held BG scoreless for more than 5:30 en route to a 60-50 triumph at the Bison Classic.

The Huskies will take their 4-0 record into Saturday's game against Rich East at 2 p.m. Buffalo Grove (2-2) will face Libertyville at 11:30 a.m. while Barrington (2-2) meets Mother McAuley at noon.

Hersey's only loss in the tournament last year was 66-49 to BG.

"I think that loss last year really motivated us," said Huskies junior guard Kelly Weyhrich, who hit a big 3-pointer during the 13-0 run that made it 48-39. "Focusing on our team play really helped us at the end."

Classmate Claire Gritt (game-high 21 points, three 3-pointers) came right back with another 3-pointer from the top of the key and Berigan made as sweeping move under the basket for a bank shot that made it 53-39 with 3:56 left.

"It's always a good game against Buffalo Grove," added Berigan, who had 13 points and 8 rebounds. "This is a good rivalry. It's good experience to get ready for our two conference (Mid-Suburban East) games with them (Dec. 18 at BG and Jan. 22 at Hersey)."

BG was hardly ready to fold despite the 14-point deficit.

The Bison got a 17-footer from Maddie Welter, a 3-pointer from Sammy Stejskal and a 3-pointer from sophomore Alyssa Floro (7 points) to close to within 53-47.

But Hersey finished strong with buckets from Berigan and Gritt and 3 free throws from Weyhrich to out the game away.

"We just want to play as hard as we can every game," said Weyhrich, who handed out 8 assists with 10 points. "They came back at us a little and then we finished it out. They are a really good team and we had to make sure to limit Maddie Welter's 3-pointers and Sammy Stejskal's drives to the basket. We were focusing on them."

Stejskal led BG with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Welter chipped in 8 points with 5 steals and 4 assists.

"Hersey is a really good team," Stejskal said. "But we are, too, and I feel we match up well with them. I think we'll do fine next time.

"We are not discouraged at all," Welter added. "We are just going to keep moving forward. We are excited to have another shot at them. Even though we didn't get the result we wanted this game, it was really intense and fun to play."

Senior forward Natalie Dimitrova, who had some eye-catching moves to the basket, added 6 points and 6 rebounds for BG. Junior teammate Megan Gamber came off the bench and popped in a key 3-pointer in the second quarter.

BG made 7-of-14 3-pointers while Hersey was 4-of-7. The Huskies took 48 shots, the Bison 40.

"I thought we rebounded better in the second half and handled the ball better," said Hersey coach Mary Fendley. "We know each other's players so well. It can come down to who takes more shots and fortunately it was us in the second half."

Junior guard Gina Miklasz sparked the Huskies' defense with 6 steals and she scored 6 of her 8 points in the first half. Classmate Carly Cooper also had 6 points.

"It's hard to play anyone three times, much less a very talented team like Buffalo Grove," Fendley said. "They beat us up pretty good in this game last year. We knew our kids wouldn't want that to happen again."

"This was two good basketball teams," said BG coach Steve Kolodziej. "I've got a lot of confidence in our girls. We'll be fine. Down the stretch, we had some things that didn't go our way.

"We were careless with the ball and with our defense but Hersey is tough. We've got to learn to be mentally tough."

There will be at least two more games between the two teams.

"To be the best, you've got to play the best," Kolodziej said. "These are the type of games that have helped us win regional the last two years."