Teehan helps rally Carmel past Grayslake North

With three minutes to play before halftime, Savannah Guenther of Grayslake North led Carmel 10-6. Yes, the entire Carmel Catholic team.

Wednesday's opening game in third-round play of the Mundelein's Thanksgiving soon became a blowout. Grayslake North built its lead to 24-6.

By the end of the third quarter, however, Carmel pulled even at 29-29. On a Guenther steal and basket, the score was knotted at 41-41 with under two minutes to play.

Caitlin Teehan broke the tie by hitting a tough fadeaway and Carmel had come all the way back to beat Grayslake North 43-41.

"This was a team effort," Teehan said after scoring a season- and game-high 21 points. "We really came together. We learned that you have to play every quarter."

But 24-6?

"We came out slowly," said Carmel junior guard Katie Lach, who added 11 points. "Our whole team was angry at halftime. We knew we could come back."

While Carmel improved to 2-1 in the tourney, Grayslake North fell to 0-3. This loss stung.

"We are a work in progress," Knights coach Rob Nicoletti said. "But this was the best we've played this week."

While Guenther (20 points) was spinning for shots inside, teammate Jayden Curtis was grabbing the rebounds. She finished with 11 boards.

"We talked about getting (within) 10 points by halftime," said Carmel coach Ben Berg, whose team trailed 26-12 at the break. "But we were still down by 14. We knew there was no 14-point possession. We put on a little pressure and began to get some deflections."

Grayslake North's offense slowed in the third quarter, as Grace Wasmer had the lone basket for the Knights. Carmel won the quarter 17-3. Lach ignited the rally with consecutive three-pointers.

But Guenther answered, tallying 6 points in a row to put the Knights back up at 37-33. Teehan found her 3-point shot in the second half. Her third 3 gave the Corsairs a 38-37 lead.

Kaitlyn Kukis (9 points) gave the Knights their last lead with a drive to the hoop. Shai Horton (9 points) posted an old-fashioned three-point play that helped the Carmel cause.

Teehan then delivered her game-winning bucket down the stretch.

Tournament play resumes on Friday. Highland Park takes on Grayslake North at 4:30 p.m., while Mundelein and Carmel play at 7:30 p.m.