Elk Grove zings Zion-Benton
After giving state-ranked Rolling Meadows one of its toughest tests of the season on Friday night, Elk Grove’s girls basketball team had plenty in reserve on Saturday afternoon.
The Grenadiers recovered from a first-quarter 12-8 deficit and limited visiting Zion-Benton to 2 points in the second quarter to gain a 17-14 edge at half before pulling away to a 46-39 nonconference triumph.
Coming off a superb 25-point effort in a 60-51 loss to Rolling Meadows, senior Diamond Boyd scored a game-high 18 points to lead the Grens (16-9) again on Saturday.
Junior Melissa Solorio added 16 points followed by seniors Kelly Naughton (8) and Kari Czeszewski (4).
Plainfield East 65, Schaumburg 60: Host Schaumburg gave powerful Plainfield East a run for its money before falling for the first time in five games.
Senior Amanda Kelly tossed home a career-high 34 points with four 3-pointers for the Saxons (13-11), who led 21-11 after one quarter and 33-22 at intermission of the nonconference game.
Kelly’s previous high came at the Wheation North tournament when she scored 26 points against West Aurora.
Saxons senior Carly Brossard chipped in 10 points with 5 rebounds while seniors Riley Williams handed out 4 assists and Jasmine Bethea pulled down 6 rebounds.
Maine West splits: The Warriors (10-15) defeated Brooks 62-39 as junior forward Brittany Collins scored a game-high 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the Sweet 16 game.
Senior guard Alexia Prosperi added 11 points and 5 rebounds while teammates Abby Herling and Georgia Peterson each collected 4 rebounds. Bridget Burger handed out 5 assists.
In their second game, the Warriors dropped a 54-34 decision to Marist. Collins led West with 16 points and 8 rebounds while Prosperi added 11. Burger dished out 3 assists.
Barrington drops two: Junior Dana O’Grady hit a running left-handed as time expired to give Lincoln-Way East a 35-33 victory over Barrington (13-13) in the Sweet 16 tourney.
Junior Angie Kirchoff led the Fillies offense with 13 points and three 3-pointers.
Marian Catholic topped the Fillies 60-40 later in the day. Freshman guard Kelly Katis, junior Brooke Gunderson and senior Alexa Resch each scored 7 points for Barrington while freshman Bryana Hopkins (7 rebounds) and Megan Talbot (6) led on the boards.
“It was a pretty tight game the first half but they (Marian Catholic) went on a run in the third quarter,” said Barrington coach Babbi Barreiro. “We got a lot of kids into the game. Bailee McDonald and Ashley Heine gave us great minutes off the bench. Angie Kirchoff played her heart out in both games.”
NAC tourney: Christian Liberty (14-7) lost in the final seconds to Christian Life in a game that decided third place in the Northeastern Athletic Conference Tournament at Luther North.
Chargers junior center Shelbi Hernandez collected 14 points, 19 rebounds, 4 steals and a block.
Other key contributors for the Chargers were sophomore Jess Moriarty (16 points, four 3-pointers), junior Megan Sullivan (9 points, 4 assists, 3 steals) and Vivian Barclay (2 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists).
Earlier in the day, CLA dropped a 47-25 decision to Westminster Christian.
Moriarty led the Chargers with 13 points (three 3-pointers) while Barclay chipped in 7.