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Hampshire topples Grayslake North

Textbook ball movement put Hampshire in its best offensive groove of the girls basketball season in Friday night's 61-37 Fox Valley Conference Fox Division victory over visiting Grayslake North.

There was little time wasted with excessive dribbling or holding the ball too long as the Whip-Purs (5-2, 2-0) whipped the ball around until they found the best shot possible. The result was 17 assists en route to 42 percent shooting from the field (21-for-50) as they surpassed their season high of 47 points.

Junior Emma Benoit was the main beneficiary with a game-high 21 points on 8-for-16 shooting and a career-high 17 rebounds.

“It's just starting to come around,” Benoit said. “We really went into this game with a good mindset. We all contributed.”

It showed as sophomore Rachel Dumoulin (12 points, 10 rebounds) and junior Nikki Dumoulin (7 points, 7 rebounds) had 5 assists apiece. Tricia Dumoulin had 8 points and 3 assists and Claudia Lazar, Allie Peters and Miah Thompson also played significant roles in the offensive efficiency.

“When we move the ball, we get so many better shots,” Rachel Dumoulin said. “It feels awesome. If you get a good shot and someone looks to pass the ball for an even better shot, it's a great feeling.” Hampshire had only broken the 40-point mark twice but surpassed that mark late in the third quarter when Dumoulin found Lazar for a long jumper.

“Something we've really been emphasizing is giving up a good shot for a great shot,” said second-year Hampshire coach Mike Featherly. “When they've bought into it we've been successful.

“We've had a hard time finding consistent play the whole game, especially offensively. Tonight we finally put some points on the board.” The Whips also dominated the boards 44-16. On the offensive end they matched the overall total for Grayslake North (2-5, 0-2).

“Every time there was a scrap, there was Rachel with her rosy cheeks,” Featherly said with a smile of Dumoulin's 7 offensive rebounds.

“What we're kind of known for this year is defense and rebounding,” Benoit said.

The Knights shot 33 percent from the field (11-for-33) and were just 12-for-26 on free throws and 3-for-12 on 3s. Sidney Lovitsch (14 points), Maggie Fish (9 points) and freshman Haley Leanna (7 points) accounted for all of their points when they trailed 44-30 with 5:39 left.

“We struggled on defense tonight and that was our biggest thing,” said first-year Knights coach Rob Nicoletti. “For four quarters we struggled. We hung with them in the first quarter (down 14-9) but we still weren't playing good defense.

“Give credit to them — they played a great game. But we've played better defense this season and I'm disappointed in that.”

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