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Glenbard South handles Aurora Central Catholic again

After losing to Glenbard South earlier this season, Aurora Central Catholic coach Mark Fitzgerald said he was looking forward to playing the Raiders a second time.

Fitzgerald was singing a different tune Tuesday night.

"Well you know sometimes be careful what you ask for," Fitzgerald said.

No. 14 Glenbard South notched its second 20-point win over the Chargers, leading from start to finish on its way to a 54-34 victory in Aurora.

The Raiders (15-3, 7-0 in the Metro Suburban West) played lights-out defense from the opening tip. Their press forced two quick turnovers that led to easy baskets for Payton Carli, Sydney Bauman and Ivana Markovic and a Fitzgerald timeout down 6-0 just 1:50 into the game.

"We talked about it being the second time through conference and how you have to play at a different level because everyone knows who you are and what you have to offer," Glenbard South coach Julie Fonda said.

"We definitely wanted to set a tone and I think they did a nice job coming out intense on defense and the offense took care of itself. I would say this is the first game after the new year where we put everything together."

Aurora Central Catholic (13-5, 3-3), who has already has passed last year's win total, turned the ball over 10 times in the first quarter.

"We haven't done that all year," Fitzgerald said. "First time we played we had no problem with their press. It's one of those head-scratchers."

Carli was especially disruptive with 4 steals to go with her game-high 18 points and 8 rebounds.

"I didn't even know," Carli said of the points. "I didn't pay attention. My teammates find me and I find them. We all contribute. Everybody played a role in this game."

The Chargers took better care of the ball after the sloppy start with only 8 more turnovers over the final 3 quarters. But they never could get their shots to fall, finishing at just 13 for 42 (31 percent) from the field and 3 of 9 at the free-throw line.

"Fonda always teaches us defense with no hands and feet and she says work on our defense and the offense will come," Carli said. "Our main priority is always defense."

The Chargers briefly dug out of an early 10-3 hole, getting back-to-back 3-point baskets from Gabi Alfaro and Kalie Soris to pull within 10-9.

Glenbard South immediately hit a pair of 3s of its own by Jenna Brambora and Markovic to lead 18-9 after one quarter.

Carli took her turn with a 3 midway through the second quarter to go up 23-11, and the Raiders led by double-digits the rest of the way.

Aurora Central trailed 27-15 at halftime and 45-21 after three quarters before Fitzgerald cleared his bench to start the fourth. The Chargers got off to slow starts in each quarter, not scoring their first basket until the 4:42, 4:46, 3:46 and 4:19 mark, respectively, in the four quarters.

"We got beat by a better team," said Fitzgerald. "They were better in all phases. The discipline was there that rattled us.

"It's how we respond to it now. We're not 5-13, we're 13-5, we're having a good season and we can make it a real great season. We are going to take a look and study that tape like never before because that's a good team. If that's Julie's last season she's going out with a heck of a team."

Bauman added 10 points and 5 blocked shots for Glenbard South.

Taylor Harazin led the Chargers with 7 points.

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