Hersey rolls past Glenbrook South for 12th straight win

Glenbrook South girls basketball coach Scott Nemecek gave plenty of praise to state-ranked Hersey after his team's visit to Arlington Heights on Saturday afternoon.

Led by freshman Katy Eidle's sixth straight game of 23 or more points (she had 23 Saturday), the Huskies raced to a 39-2 lead before coasting to a 66-23 triumph.

"First of all, this is an outstanding team we played," said Nemecek, whose club is 8-18. "A lot of any mistakes we made were really not self-inflicted. They were caused by some great play by Hersey."

Some of that great play was provided by junior Natalia Kubsik, who Hersey coach Mary Fendley believes might be overlooked by just the casual observer.

Kubsik, who was asked to move from a perimeter position last season to an inside role this winter, scored 8 points (two 3-ponters) and shared in her team's rebounding lead with classmate Mary McGrath (6 apiece). Eidle grabbed five.

"I think Natalia is a kid who basketball people notice because she does so many intangibles," Fendley said. "I love the job she has done in the post for the past few weeks now.

"She is so willing to step up where we need her - she can rebound, she can play post defense, she can hit 3-pointers, and she is a very good ballhandler for a post player."

Kubsik, who also played shortstop on Hersey's Mid-Suburban East championship softball team last spring, didn't mind the move inside at all.

"I like it," she said. "It's a good switch."

The Huskies (23-6) have switched it into a new gear since their win over Geneva in the Montini Christmas tournament, winning 12 straight games.

Kubsik made her switch inside in tandem with classmate Avery Larson.

"Natalia and Avery were essentially guards last year," Fendley said. "We've changed their positions and they've been fantastic."

The Huskies got off to a fantastic start on Saturday, limiting the Titans to just one basket (15-foot fadeaway jumper by Eden Frick) in the game's first 12 minutes.

A steal and layup by senior Claire Stollfuss (4 points) gave Hersey 1he 39-2 lead midway through the second quarter.

"We played a great opponent and we'll learn from it," Nemecek said. "I think our girls kept going after it hard. I don't think we gave up at any time and that's all we can ask.

"We have a lot of girls who don't have a lot of varsity experience. They're gaining a lot of experience and doing a good job at it."

Nemecek was without starting point guard Sidney Rogers (illness), a freshman averaging 8 points and 2 assists per game.

"Of course, she would have helped," he said. "She kind of steadies the offense for us. But credit Hersey for how well they played. I'm proud of how hard our girls played. Even though we were losing by a bunch, we had girls coaching each other on the floor. When you lose a game like this, you have to watch the film and find out the things you have to work on to get better And the girls will do a great job at that."

As usual, junior Mary Kate Fahey did a great job running the Huskies' offense, scoring 9 points while also handing out 5 assists, two on inbound plays to McGrath (11 points).

"We just seem like we've hit a nice groove," Fendley said. "We have one conference game left and then hopefully we'll play for a conference championship (Feb. 12 at Fremd).

"I just think we're in a really good spot. There are a few things we can build on but we're in spot that I think we'll be able to do that."