Grant finds balance against Wauconda
McKenzie Burton’s 11 points led a balanced attack as Grant’s girls basketball team held off visiting Wauconda 41-36 in a North Suburban Conference Prairie Division game Saturday.
Kaylie Kanzler added 8 points for Grant (8-12, 3-4), which won its second straight.
Lauren Nee had 12 points, 5 steals and 4 rebounds for Wauconda (4-14, 1-7), while Kelly Haberichter grabbed 9 rebounds. Jena Heck had 7 points for the Bulldogs.
“It was one of our best efforts of the season,” Wauconda coach Jaime Dennis said. “Grant’s press really gave us trouble the last time we played them (a 58-34 Grant win). This time it wasn’t an issue. We moved the ball really well.
“Our most impressive play was on defense,” Dennis added. “We have been working hard during winter break to apply more pressure on the ball and challenge every pass. We did that today: collecting 10 steals, tipping passes and forcing turnovers. It was a great team effort.”
In the end, it came down to free throws, and Grant made its foul shots.
“We were disappointed in our play vs. Mundelein on Tuesday,” Dennis said. “So it’s nice to see the girls bounce back from that, play a good game and be in position to win it at the end.”
Trinity 64, Vernon Hills 41: Point guard Lauren Prochaska scored 20 points, hitting four 3-pointers, and Mary Dillon added 15 points on five 3s, as the host Blazers handed the Cougars their second straight loss.
Trinity is ranked eighth in Class 4A in the AP poll, while Vernon Hills is fourth in Class 3A.
Sydney Smith had 17 points, including three 3-pointers, and 6 rebounds for Vernon Hills (18-2) in the nonconference game. Meri Bennett-Swanson added 10 points for the Cougars, who trailed 15-8 after one quarter and 36-22 at halftime.
Grayslake North 48, Crystal Lake Central 43: The visiting Knights avoided their second straight loss, as Brittney Thibeaux scored 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the Fox Valley Fox Division game.
Jordyn Bowen added 14 points, 5 steals and 3 assists for Grayslake North (16-2, 6-0). Kendall Detweiler had 7 points, while Joanna Guhl contributed 6 points and 8 rebounds.
Zion-Benton 56, Libertyville 51: Syerra Cunningham’s 22 points and Mia Yarbrough’s 18 led the visiting Zee-Bees in the North Suburban Lake Division game.
Olivia Mayer and Dana Kym scored 13 and 10 points, respectively, for Libertyville (8-11, 3-4), which lost to Zion-Benton 67-27 on Dec. 1. Mary Wilterdink added 9 points for the Wildcats, who had won four of their last five.
North Chicago 60, Antioch 53: Alex Fracek recorded her first double-double — 14 points and 14 rebounds — but the visiting Sequoits fell behind 40-20 by halftime and could not recover in the North Suburban Prairie contest.
Megan Borries had 13 points for Antioch (13-7, 5-2), while Paige Gallimore added 8.
Stevenson 41, Warren 33: Sophia Way sank two 3-pointers, scoring 8 of her game-high 16 points in the fourth quarter, as the host Patriots won the North Suburban Lake contest.
Kari Moffat (9 points) went 4 of 4 from the foul line in the fourth for Stevenson (12-7, 6-2), which won its third in a row.
Warren (10-8, 4-3) got 9 points from Kristen O’Brien and 8 apiece from Kylie Nedelka, Alyssa Phillips and Kristin Jacobs.
Grayslake Central 43, Woodstock North 34: Morgan Dahlstrom scored 12 points and Carson Sparkman added 10 for the host Rams in the Fox Valley Fox game.
Grayslake Central (12-8, 5-1) also got 9 points from Lauren Spalding, who hit three 3-pointers.