Korff helps distribute a Hersey win
Annie Korff may be a 5-foot-10 forward who can produce big scoring games, but that doesn't mean she isn't a skilled passer as well.
The Hersey senior handed out 12 assists to go along with her 16 points and 6 rebounds, which helped the Huskies past Westinghouse 88-31 in the opening round of the Buffalo Grove tournament on Thursday night.
"It's amazing she had 12 assists considering she is a post," said Mary Fendley, who began her 17th season as Hersey's girls basketball coach by notching career win No. 330.
The game was the second one played at Hersey's Ken Carter Gymnasium. Libertyville topped Barrington 53-45 in the first.
Fendley watched 11 of the 12 girls she played make it into the scoring column, including freshman Erin McGrath, sophomore Carly Cooper, sophomore Gina Miklasz and junior Claire Niemczyk who recorded their first varsity points.
Senior Juliette Vainisi scored a game-high 19 points for Hersey (1-0) while sophomore Claire Gritt added 18.
Gritt and classmate Kelly Weyhrich each had 4 assists.
Barrington (0-1) was led by sophomore forward Alex Van Ryne (14 points) and junior forward Megan Talbot, whose 8 points came from 8-of-8 shooting at the free throw line.
Buffalo Grove 52, Maine South 34: BG kicked off play in its own tourney as junior guard Maddie Welter scored a game-high 26 points. Senior Julie Jambrone (7 points), junior Natali Dimitrova (6) and senior Maddy Callahan (50 were the next highest scorers for BG (1-0).
Hoffman Estates 77, Lake Park 67: Sophomore Monraia Wilson scored a career-high 30 points to help lead the host Hawks to victory in the second round of their own tournament.
Wilson made 9 field goals and was 10 of 13 at the line, including 8 of 10 in the final quarter.
"She played really well," said Mike Koester, who earned his first win as a varsity coach after serving for eight years as an assistant in the McHenry program.
Junior guard Erin Hanson added 13 points for Hoffman (1-1) followed by freshman guard Tayler Williams (9) and junior forward Jennifer Nailor (8).
Hampshire 33, Maine West 24: Junior guard Jordan Hart came off the bench to lead Maine West (0-2) with 10 points in the second-round game of the Hoffman Estates tournament.
Teammate Monica Liwag added 7 points with 11 rebounds and 3 steals.
Leyden 44, Addison 34: Senior guard Alondra Chavarria scored 21 points to lead Leyden to its second win in the Fenton/Addison Trail tournament. Sophomore Cherish Sepulveda, a 5-11 sophomore, added 8 points for the Eagles (2-0).
Stevenson 75, Schaumburg 42: Sophomore Mallory Gerber scored 15 points with three 3-pointers to lead the Saxons in the second round of their own Thanksgiving tournament. Senior Tatiana Doroskin added 8 points for the hosts (1-1).