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St. Charles North protects lead this time

The St. Charles North girls basketball team did something Monday it's been struggling with at times this season.

Protect a lead.

The North Stars made 5 of 6 from the free-throw line in the final 41 seconds and held off Resurrection 49-41 in the opening round of the 28th annual Charger Classic at Dundee-Crown.

“We finished four quarters and that's huge for us,” said relieved North Stars coach Colleen Brennan.

With the win St. Charles North (6-5) advances to the 3:30 p.m. quarterfinal on Tuesday to face defending tournament champion New Trier (9-4). The Trevians beat Dundee-Crown 51-22 Monday.

“The first game of this tournament is huge,” Brennan said. “It was a big game for us. We needed it.”

The North Stars led 30-20 after Sydney Russell nailed a 3-pointer with 5 minutes left in the third quarter. They still led 34-26 going into the fourth but then the Bandits (5-7) started to claw their way back into the game.

A 3-pointer from Kelly Barzowski and a bucket from Samantha Ruehl brought Resurrection to within 34-31 in the first minute of the fourth quarter. SCN got baskets from Megan Booe, Amanda Ciran and Taylor Russell over the next 90 seconds to go back up 40-31, but Resurrection wouldn't quit and after a bucket from Jenna Rice with 3:15 to play they had inched back to within 2 at 40-38.

But that's when Sydney Russell's senior leadership took over. Not only did she protect the basketball like it was her favorite Christmas present, she helped her team protect the lead by calmly sinking 2 free throws with 3:12 left that kept the North Stars in the lead, 42-38.

Then, after Anne Larsen nailed a 3-pointer for the Bandits to make it a 42-41 game, Sydney Russell's nifty back door assist to sister Taylor gave SCN a 44-41 lead with 2:14 to play.

The North Stars then turned up the defense and didn't allow Resurrection to score again while Alex Silverman, Sydney Russell and Tess Fischer closed out the game at the line.

“Being the point guard is a big job but we all come together as a team when it gets crazy out there,” Sydney Russell said. “Today (Resurrection) made a run at us and we kept our composure and stayed with it and played ball. That's a big positive for us because we've had trouble when teams make runs at us.”

The North Stars never trailed in the game after Sydney Russell's 3-pointer just 44 seconds in became the first points of the 2010 Charger Classic. And more than anything, Brennan liked her team's energy the morning after a long weekend off.

“We're still working on a lot of things but we had a lot of intensity out there today,” she said. “We slipped a couple times but we were able to regain control.”

Brennan also acknowledged the leadership of her point guard.

“She's a big focal point,” Brennan said of Sydney Russell, who led SCN with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. “She does have a calming factor to her, but we have a lot of leaders and they're getting better with their consistency.

“I'm very pleased with the outcome and very happy they're learning more about each other.”

Taylor Russell added 10 points for the Stars, while Stephanie Scavone led Resurrection with 13 points.

Images: St. Charles North vs. Resurrection

Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.comSt. Charles North guard Megan Booe drives to the basket against Resurrection during Monday's action at the Dundee-Crown holiday basketball tournament in Carpentersville.
  St. Charles North forward Amanda Ciran puts up a shot while being defended by Resurrection’s Annie Stauffer during Monday’s action at the Dundee-Crown holiday basketball tournament in Carpentersville. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  St. Charles North guard Kate Booe battles for the ball with Resurrection’s Annie Stauffer during Monday’s action at the Dundee-Crown holiday basketball tournament in Carpentersville. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  St. Charles North guard Alex Silverman is fouled by Resurrection’s Elizabeth Rehberger while bringing the ball upcourt during Monday’s action at the Dundee-Crown holiday basketball tournament in Carpentersville. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com