By Drake Skleba
For the Bugle
Steelwomen fall to Lincoln-Way West in Oswego East final
After defeating Sycamore 55-45 on Friday in an Oswego East Holiday Tournament semifinal, Joliet Central (11-5) faced Lincoln-Way West (12-3) for the tournament championship Saturday afternoon.
The defending tournament champion Warriors exploded to a 20-7 first quarter lead and never looked back.
Led by 5-foot-1 senior Tara Hastings, West rolled to a 64-42 victory to repeat as tournament champions.
The two squads each scored 14 points in the second quarter and Lincoln-Way West took a 34-21 lead, to the halftime locker room.
Hastings led the Warriors with 11 first half points, while Joliet Central was led by 5-foot-2 senior Armani Strickland’s eight points.
Tournament Most Valuable Player Taylor Gugliuzza helped the Warriors extended their lead to 47-27 after three quarters.
Gugliuzza,led the Warriors with 14 points. Tara Gugiuzza added 13 points and all-tournament selection Hastings finished with 12.
The Steelwomen were led by Strickland’s 13 points. All-tournament selection Shawton Brown was held to just two points in the championship game.
Third Place: Oswego 66, Lockport 61
Oswego (12-4) was led by all-tournament selection Jenelle Rogers’ 24 points. The Porters (6-11) were led by junior Sawyer Hollatz, who scored 16 points. Porters all-tournament selection 6-foot-3 senior Jenna Cotter chipped in with nine points.
Fifth Place: Oswego East 61, Naperville North 43
Led by the host Wolves’ all-tournament selection junior Cristine Corpuz, Oswego East (8-9) rolled past Naperville North for fifth place. Khali Chval added a dozen points for the victorious Wolves.
Naperville North (7-9) was led by all-tournament selection Greata Kampschroder, who tallied 18 points.
Seventh Place: Sycamore 54, Plainfield Central 49
Playing without leading scorer, junior Kachae Donald (ankle), for the third consecutive game, the Wildcats (10-7) fell in the seventh-place game Saturday. Senior guard Katie Kearney returned from her ankle injury and scored 14 points for the Wildcats.
All-tournament selection, sophomore Annaliese Griffin poured in 27 points for Plainfield Central in the losing effort. Sycamore (11-6) was led by all-tournament selection, junior Kylie Feuerbach who scored 18 points.
Consolation Championship Game: Metea Valley 33, Downers Grove South 30
The Mustangs (10-5) were led by all-tournament selection Holly Leuken, who scored a game-high 12 points. Metea Valley (7-6), was led junior Chloe Kurkjian and senior Tess Thompson, who each scored eight points.
Top-Ranked Benet Girls Take Fifth at Montini
After their heart-breaking triple-overtime loss to Fremd (17-2), the top-ranked Redwings defeated Evanston and East Suburban Catholic rival Marist to take home the fifth-place trophy back to Lisle.
Benet (18-3) was paced by senior point guard Clara Prasse’s 18 points in a win over Evanston 57-44 Friday.
Saturday in the fifth place game against ESCC rival Marist (12-4), the Redwings squeaked by the Redhawks 44-43.