Glenbard East upends Elgin
There were some bright spots for the Elgin girls basketball team in the season opener at Chesbrough Field House on Tuesday night. However, in the end the Maroons couldn't overcome their 32 turnovers and fell to visiting Glenbard East 50-22.
"I was pretty happy with the way we played on defense and overall the effort was real good," Elgin coach Dr. Nick Bumbales said. "Offensively though we have some things to work on. I wasn't real happy with the way we entered the ball into the offense. There were too many times when we picked up our dribble too soon. So, that's something we need to get better at."
The Maroons (0-1) trailed 15-8 at halftime, but put together a nice stretch at the start of the third quarter, scoring the first 6 points of the second half to pull to within 15-14 on a basket by Abby Pierre-Louis. Lessa Mena and Alisha Panthier also had baskets during the run.
"It was real encouraging to see the girls come back like that," Bumbales said. "We just need to play like that more consistently. I'd like to see us be more aggressive at taking the ball to the basket."
Destiny West and Panthier each had 6 points to lead Elgin in scoring. The Maroons will play 3 games in the next 4 days at the Elgin Academy tournament.
After the Maroons pulled to within 15-14, the Rams answered back with 15-0 run to open up a 30-14 lead. Ashley Llorens started the run with an open basket on a quick cut into the lane.
Brasia Salid followed with a 3 pointer. Salid finished with a game high 17 points. She had 9 points in the first quarter to help the Rams get out to a 13-4 lead.
Glenbard East (1-0) scored eight transition baskets in the second half off Maroon turnovers. Senior Allison Hanson scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half to help lead the surge.
"We just regrouped and picked it up at the defensive end," Hanson said. "It feels good to get a win and get off on the right track. We played good as a team, but this was also a good opportunity to see what we have to work on."
The Rams had a rather solid opening game all around, playing excellent defense, shooting 21 of 44 (48 percent) from the field and committing just 12 turnovers.
"It's always nice to get that first win, "Glenbard East coach Don Finnie said. "I really liked the way the defense played. That was really the key to game."