By Drake Skleba
For the Bugle
Coming off Tuesday’s West Suburban Gold conference-opening victory at Leyden and losing a practice day on Monday due to Mother Nature, the No.3 ranked Mustangs of Downers Grove South had a problem.
Awaiting them in Lisle were the No.1 ranked Redwings of Benet Academy for a Terrific Ten clash on Wednesday evening.
Defense and Depth.
Forcing 24 turnovers and receiving 24 points from the Redwing bench Benet Academy (7-0) routed Downers Grove South 60-34 to remain unbeaten and retain the top spot in the Terrific Ten Area Girls Hoops rankings.
Only leading 28-16 at halftime the Redwings turned to their depth to put this game in the win column. Sophomore Molly Sheehan (seven points) and junior Allison Forney (nine points) both buried huge three-point shots to ignite the 20-9 third quarter Redwing onslaught.
The Redwings were led by 5-foot-11 junior Kendall Holmes who scored 11 points. Wisconsin-commit junior Brooke Schramek added nine points, hauled down five rebounds, added two steals and a block shot.
Six-foot-2 senior Ashley Konkle scored just six points, but was a human eraser inside, blocking three Mustang shots in the first nine minutes of the game.
The Redwing defense came out like a swarm of angry bees attacking the Mustangs in the first quarter.
The Redwings blocked six Mustang shots and held Downers Grove South to just two first-quarter free throws for an 11-2 first-quarter lead.
The Mustangs missed their first 12 shots from the field.
Back-to-back triples from Mustang senior Holly Leuken (15 points, five rebounds, two steals, blocked shots senior guard Maggie Greco (three points, three rebounds, two steals,assist) kept the Mustangs down just 15-10 with 5:54 left in the half.
Schramek, Konkle and Holmes ignited a 12-2 run which opened up a 28-12 lead with 1.3 seconds left in the half. The Mustangs received a jumper from sophomore Jordan Grant (six points) and a pair of free throws from junior Erin Ganschow (four points and two rebounds) to close to within 28-16 at the half.
“We are so deep. Because of our depth we have a huge advantage over other teams,” Schramek said. “It was a good game for me tonight but not one of my better games. I try to get in the high post and make my shots. They weren’t falling and I have to work on that.”
“We prepared very well for tonight’s game,” Holmes said. “We wanted to start out with bang and we did in the first quarter. It was a good night for me. I was knocking down my shots and our team played well. We are fortunate to have a (deep bench).”
She only scored four points in the game but senior point guard Clara Prasse had a major impact on Benet’s victory adding five steals and five assists.
“We had a really hard, practice, yesterday and started the game well, in the first quarter,” Prasse said. “We struggled a little in the second quarter but played really well in the second half, to win the game. I try to make my teammates better and we really work hard in practice on our defense.”
For the Mustangs (4-2, 1-0) it will be back to the practice court as they get ready for two huge WSC Gold road games at Willowbrook (5-2. 1-0) on Tuesday and then next Thursday at Proviso East (4-3, 1-0)
“It’s always a pleasure to play Benet,” Downers Grove South head coach Lyndsie Long said. “They are a great team. We had a great win last night at Leyden. We must be able to get production from other people. They were doubling and tripling Holly (Lueken) and she still played well. She can’t do it all by herself.”
“Benet is a great team but we really didn’t come out strong in the first quarter, scoring just two points, “Lueken said. “I did OK tonight but its hard when our team didn’t have its mojo tonight.”
For the top-ranked Redwings, Thursday they host Lyons Township (2-4). On Saturday the Redwings will travel to Fremd High School in Palatine for a 3:45 p.m. date with the undefeated two-time defending Wisconsin State Champions from Beaver Dam. The Redwing-Beaver Dam game is part of the 11-game Girls Chicagoland Basketball Showcase at Fremd.
Benet will then travel to Wilmette Sunday for a 3:30 p.m. battle with undefeated Mother McAuley. The game is part of the four-game East Suburban Catholic Conference-Girls Chicago Athletic Conference Showdown, at Loyola Academy.
“Our depth is definitely a huge strength for us,” Benet Academy coach Joe Kilbride said. “It not only provides depth for us but also gives us the opportunity to use multiple lineups. In the stretches where Clara was in the game is when we played our best. Clara shot the ball well for against H-F and has played very well, for us all season.
“We have LT on Thursday here and then at Fremd against Beaver Dam. on Saturday. Then on Sunday up to Loyola against McAuley. Four games in five days. I might have over scheduled on the girls. Hopefully we will have something left in the tank for Saturday and Sunday.”
TUESDAYS’ GIRLS DAILY BASKETBALL ROUNDUP
Wildcats, Donald rally past Oswego East
Trailing at halftime 30-29 in their Southwest Prairie Conference opener Tuesday night, Plainfield Central (4-3, 1-0) felt confident they could rally past Oswego East (1-4, 0-1). Behind 27 points from junior Kachae Donald, the Wildcats did rally past the Wolves and pick up their opening SPC victory 58-55.
Outscoring the Wolves 15-13 in the third quarter, the ‘Cats pulled ahead 45-43, after three quarters.
Six-foot-1 sophomore Annaliese Griffin would pick up a double-double, for the ‘Cats scoring 16 points and hauling down 10 rebounds. Junior Stacy Evans’ claimed a game-high 17 rebounds for Central. Evans also picked up four steals on the night while Griffin added three steals.
SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE
Indians ambush West Tigers
Indians ambush West Tigers
In the Southwest Prairie Conference opener for both schools, Minooka (4-1, 1-0) rolled to a 21-10 first quarter lead and never looked back rolling to a 61-43 win over Joliet West (3-3, 0-1).
Oswego stuns Steelwomen 40-38!
In their Southwest Prairie Conference opener Tuesday night, Joliet Central (3-3, 0-1) were stunned by Oswego (5-1, 1-0).
WEST SUBURBAN SILVER
Trojans handle Red Devils in WSC Silver Opener
After one quarter, in the West Suburban Silver opener, for both schools DGN (4-2, 1-0) led Hinsdale Central 3-2. The Trojans increased their lead to 15-8 at the half. The Trojan defense held the Red Devils to just three, third quarter points and increased their lead to 26-11 and would go to a 40-15 demolition, of their archrivals from Hinsdale Central (1-4, 0-1.)
After one quarter, in the West Suburban Silver opener, for both schools DGN (4-2, 1-0) led Hinsdale Central 3-2. The Trojans increased their lead to 15-8 at the half. The Trojan defense held the Red Devils to just three, third quarter points and increased their lead to 26-11 and would go to a 40-15 demolition, of their archrivals from Hinsdale Central (1-4, 0-1.)
The Trojans were led in scoring by Alexis Parker 10 points. Sophomore Ellis Gross and senior Laure Sebek added six points each for the Trojans. 6-foot-2 senior Jaylen Harris owned the glass hauling down a game-high 11 rebounds.
NONCONFERENCE
CENTRAL SUBURBAN CROSSOVERS
Hawks hammer Warriors
Maine South improved to 4-3 by winning the CSL crossover on Tuesday night, romping past Deerfield 49-27.
Maine South improved to 4-3 by winning the CSL crossover on Tuesday night, romping past Deerfield 49-27.
Wolves, roll past Blue Demons 58-39
Niles West (4-1) rolled past Maine East (1-4), in a Central Suburban League Crossover game on Tuesday.
TUESDAYS’ GIRLS DAILY BASKETBALL ROUNDUP
Wildcats, Donald rally past Oswego East
Trailing at halftime 30-29, in their Southwest Prairie Conference opener on Tuesday night, Plainfield Central (4-3, 1-0) felt confident, that they could rally past the Wolves, of Oswego East (1-4, 0-1). Behind 27 points, from junior Kachae Donald, the Wildcats did rally past the Wolves and pick up their opening SPC victory, 58-55.
Outscoring the Wolves 15-13 in the third quarter, the ‘Cats pulled ahead 45-43, after three quarters.
6-foot-1 sophomore, Annaliese Griffin, would pick up a double-double, for the ‘Cats scoring 16 points and hauling down 10 rebounds. Junior Stacy Evans’ claimed a game-high 17 rebounds for Central. Evans also picked up four steals on the night while Griffin added three steals.
SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE
Indians ambush West Tigers
Indians ambush West Tigers
In the Southwest Prairie Conference opener for both schools, Minooka (4-1, 1-0) rolled to a 21-10, first quarter lead and never looked back, rolling to a 61-43 win over Joliet West (3-3, 0-1).
Oswego stuns Steelwomen 40-38
In their Southwest Prairie Conference opener Tuesday night Joliet Central (3-3, 0-1) was defeated by Oswego (5-1, 1-0).
WEST SUBURBAN SILVER
Trojans handle Red Devils in WSC Silver Opener
After one quarter in the West Suburban Silver opener for both schools, DGN (4-2, 1-0) led Hinsdale Central 3-2. The Trojans increased their lead to 15-8 at the half. The Trojan defense held the Red Devils to just three, third quarter points and increased their lead to 26-11 and would go to a 40-15 demolition, of their arch rivals from Hinsdale Central (1-4, 0-1.)
After one quarter in the West Suburban Silver opener for both schools, DGN (4-2, 1-0) led Hinsdale Central 3-2. The Trojans increased their lead to 15-8 at the half. The Trojan defense held the Red Devils to just three, third quarter points and increased their lead to 26-11 and would go to a 40-15 demolition, of their arch rivals from Hinsdale Central (1-4, 0-1.)
NONCONFERENCE
CENTRAL SUBURBAN CROSSOVERS
Hawks hammer Warriors
Maine South improved to 4-3 by winning the CSL crossover Tuesday night, romping past Deerfield 49-27.
Maine South improved to 4-3 by winning the CSL crossover Tuesday night, romping past Deerfield 49-27.
Wolves, roll past Blue Demons 58-39
Niles West (4-1) rolled past Maine East (1-4) in a Central Suburban League Crossover game Tuesday.