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South Elgin comes back to beat East Aurora

The whistles were blowing frequently during the first quarter of South Elgin's girls basketball game against East Aurora Saturday.

The host Storm were whistled for nine fouls in the game's first 8 minutes, and it appeared at that time as if it might be a long day for the home team.

But South Elgin was able to adjust its defense enough to satisfy the officials, and the Storm was able to notch a 56-51 come-from-behind Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division win.

"That was an ugly win," said South Elgin coach Dan Mandernack. "We like to switch up our defenses and traps and we couldn't do it. The foul trouble killed us in the first half. They had two quick guards that took us out of our game."

Had East Aurora (3-6, 1-3) done a better job at the free throw line in the first quarter the Storm (7-3, 3-1) would have been behind by more than the 16-15 deficit they faced. The Tomcats made just 7 of 13 from the line in the first quarter.

East Aurora led 32-29 at halftime and still had a 38-33 advantage with 4:56 left in the third quarter when South Elgin mounted its comeback. The Storm went on a 16-1 run and took a 49-39 lead with 6:50 left in the game on a basket from senior Delaney Kelleher. Senior Laura McIntosh, who finished with 13 points, scored 7 straight in less than 2 minutes, including hitting a 3-pointer with 2:30 left in the quarter that gave South Elgin the lead for good at 41-38.

The Storm was also able to get the ball inside to Kelleher's sophomore sister, Mackie, who scored 6 of her game-high 20 points in the third quarter including hitting 4 of 7 free throws.

"We knew in the second half we couldn't foul and offensively we knew we needed to get it into the post," said Delaney Keller, who admitted the Tomcats' early aggressiveness took the Storm by surprise.

Down 10, East Aurora didn't give up. The Tomcats got back in the game and cut the lead to 3, 50-47, on 2 free throws from senior Jasmine Shepard with 3:46 left to play.

But the Storm was able to extend the lead to 9, 56-47, with 1:34 left as senior Cara Fahey made a layup and McIntosh and junior Nadia Yang each made 2 free throws.

"We want to run and gun as much as anyone but eventually we had to get it into the post and get it to Mackie," said Mandernack. Give East Aurora credit. They played hard. We had to overcome some adversity with all the foul trouble. We did, and I'm proud of them for that."

Yang added 8 points for the Storm, who shot 20 of 49 for the day and outrebounded East 36-30, led by 7 each from McIntosh and Bridgette Williams. After committing 7 turnovers in the first quarter, South Elgin also took care of the basketball better, giving it up just 10 times the rest of the way.

Shepard led the Tomcats with 12 points. Alexis Wiggins and Aracely Cepeda scored 11 each for the Tomcats, who were 15 of 43 shooting and had 19 turnovers.

Images: South Elgin vs. East Aurora, girls basketball

  South Elgin guard Cara Fahey (23) and East Aurora guard Jasmine Shepard (20) collide on the way down court during East Aurora at South Elgin girls basketball Saturday. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  South Elgin forward Bridgette Williams (32) goes strong to the hoop through a host of East Aurora players during East Aurora at South Elgin girls basketball Saturday. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
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