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Hersey appreciates being home, knocks off Conant

What did a math, science and English teacher have in common in the Carter Gymnasium on Wednesday night?

Each was selected by Hersey senior girls basketball players Jessie Carlquist, Jordan Carlquist and Claire Stollfuss as mentors they wished to honor on Faculty Appreciation Night.

After the pregame ceremony, the Huskies gave their fans plenty to appreciate on the court with a 65-39 triumph over visiting Conant in the Mid-Suburban League crossover.

And you had to appreciate the performance of Hersey 6-foot-1 junior forward Mary McGrath, who made 14 of 18 shots from the floor (including a 3-pointer) for a career-high 30 points.

The Huskies had not been home for 33 days and McGrath made sure to make it a nice return to her home gym in Arlington Heights.

"It feels great, especially since we were so excited to be back home after being at the Montini tournament for four days and a lot of other games on the road (including a trip to Glen Ellyn last Saturday for the Grow the Game Shootout)," McGrath said. "This was really a great team effort."

"It was really nice to be back home to start the new year," added senior guard Jessie Carlquist. "And it was nice that we were able to show our appreciation to our teachers who have helped us this year and in years past."

A driving layup by junior Isabella Tierney got the Cougars (4-11) to within 13-11 after they fell behind 7-0 in the game's first three minutes.

But the Huskies closed the first quarter with an 8-2 run, capped by McGrath's 3-pointer just before the buzzer sounded.

"If it's possible to have a quiet 30 points, Mary had a quiet 30," said Hersey coach Mary Fendley, whose team raised its record to 14-6 with its third straight win.

"She didn't force the issue. She waited to get open and she took high-percentage shots."

Also reaching double figures for Hersey was junior guard Mary Kate Fahey (13 points, 3 assists).

Freshman Katy Eidle chipped in 9 points with 3 assists and Jordan Carlquist had 8 points with 4 assists.

Conant was led by sophomore forward Emily Ytsen (11 points) and Tierney (10), who was 8 of 8 from the free-throw line.

Senior Chikere Oduocha and junior Neeha Kakuturu each had 5 points.

"I thought Emily played really well," said Conant coach Todd Strauch. "She rebounded, she guarded and she finished around the rim. And I thought Chikere played really well. She's come a long way. She has played very well the last five games so that is something we can build on."

Hersey finished the first half on a 9-2 run. Jordan Carlquist's rebound and 10-footer in the lane with two seconds left made it 38-24 at intermission.

"They're good," Strauch said of the Huskies. "They knock down shots. I thought we did a good job contesting shots in the first half. But they made contested shots and that's why they are so good."

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