Lueken leads DGS with 26 in an opening win’ Galanopoulos drops 27 on Prospect in a Niles West loss

Monday night at the 7th Annual York Thanksgiving Girls’ Basketball Tournament in Elmhurst, Downers Grove South and Niles West’s girls basketball teams tipped off their 2018-2019 campaigns.

The Mustangs (1-0), led by 6-foot-1 senior Holly Lueken’s 26 points, rolled past Conant 66-39, in the opener.

The Wolves (0-1) received a 27-point, performance, from senior Sam Galanopoulos, but fell to Prospect 59-45. The Wolves will face Trinity (0-1), a 53-48 loser to Oswego East, at 6 p.m. Tuesday night in a White Division matchup.

The Mustangs will face off with St. Francis (0-1), who fell to the host Lady Dukes of York (1-0), Monday night in a Green Division game.

The Mustangs jumped on the Lady Cougars with a 21-7 first-quarter blitz, led by Lueken and senior point guard Maggie Greco.

Greco scored all 13 of her points in the first half to lead the Mustangs to a 38-18 lead at the break. Lueken had 11 points at halftime.

“The team played very well tonight,” Greco said. “I played well but I am more concerned with our team and how we all played tonight. Back to work tomorrow against St. Francis.”

The third quarter was the Holly Lueken show as the Mustang senior took over the game.

Lueken scored 11 points in the third quarter dished out three assists and rejected a pair of Lady Cougar shots to open up a 53-26 Mustang lead after three quarters.

This was a great team win for us and everyone played and played well,” Lueken said. “I played well tonight but I must thank my teammates, for getting me the ball in great positions, to score. A quick turnaround for us tomorrow, with St. Francis.”

Lueken just missed a double-double with her 26-point, eight rebound performance. The 5-foot-5, tough-as-nails, Greco stuffed the stat sheet with her 13 points handed out five assists, hauled down four rebounds and  picked up a pair of steals, too.

For Mustang head coach, Lyndsie Long, the night was a huge success with all 11 of her Mustangs playing — 10 of them scoring.

“Tonight was a great season-opening win for us,” Long said. “We were able to play everyone tonight and everyone contributed to our victory. Holly and Maggie played outstanding for us tonight and provided us with the senior leadership they always provide for us.”

Niles West sophomore Angelica Cirineo (10 points, 2 3’s) hit a pair of long-range three-pointers that led the Wolves to a 15-12, first quarter lead over the Lady Knights.

A 13-6 Prospect second quarter-run gave the Knights a 25-21 lead at halftime. The Wolves struggling through an ice-cold shooting Knights, but stayed in the game with their in-your-face defense.

Galanopoulos (27 points, seven rebound, three steals), scored seven of the 11 Wolves points in the third quarter but Prospect opened up a 44-35 lead after three quarters.

Doing everything in her power to keep the Wolves in the game, Galanopoulos exploded for 11 fourth quarter points but the Wolves fell short by the 59-45 score.

“Prospect is a very together basketball team,” Galanopoulos said. ” For us it was just trying to get the kinks out of our game. I started out in the first half to try to just get the feel for the game. In the second half I really stepped up my game and as a team we fell a little short. We will play better, tomorrow.”

“I should really try to improve on my defense,” Cirineo said. “Prospect was such a quick and talented team tonight.”

The Wolves will look for a big bounce-back win over Trinity.

“We are a good-shooting team and just couldn’t hit our shots,” Niles West coach Kyle Braheny said. “Prospect is a good team and we kind of fell apart defensively, giving them open looks. Sam is very good at picking up the pace and scoring for us but we fell a little short. We hope to bounce back tomorrow.”