Swider, Wheaton North stay in the race

Wheaton North freshman Hannah Swider wore a huge smile after Thursday's night DuPage Valley Conference girls basketball game.

One look at the stat sheet explained Swider's smile. Swider pierced the Redhawks' defense for a personal-best 22 points, 11 in the third quarter, plus 9 rebounds. The Falcons won 60-49, preventing the visiting Redhawks from claiming the DVC championship outright.

"It was adrenaline, really, from the whole team," Swider said of her big night. "I couldn't really have done it without them. They just keep me going. Emari (Jones), because I sometimes get into foul trouble, she reminds me to keep my hands up, don't foul, don't foul. They all just help me out. It was really a team effort today."

Jones also had a great game, with 17 points and 9 rebounds, but Swider was the difference in the game, according to Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum.

"She was very good," Nussbaum said. "And we - I'll take responsibility for this - we did not adjust for the fact that she was playing the way she was playing."

"Early I thought they were sagging off, and Hannah's obviously a pretty good player," Falcons coach Dave Eaton added. "I was surprised they were going to let her go. They gave her the opportunity, and she stepped up and took it. She works extremely hard. She's been our hardest worker, day in and day out. It showed tonight. She stepped up big-time in a big game."

At the end of a first half that included three ties and five lead changes, the Falcons (11-11, 5-3) led 29-25. No matter how much they worked for it, the Redhawks (13-14, 6-2) never caught up with the Falcons in the second half.

After the first quarter, shooting became a problem for the Redhawks, both at the free-throw line and from the floor. They made 40 percent of their shots both ways.

"We just made a ton of shots that we usually make," Nussbaum said. "I mean, we were making them in the first quarter, then I don't know what happened."

When Swider wasn't making her three 3-pointers or driving to the basket, the Falcons were hitting free throws. They made 20 of 26 in the game, 14 of 17 in the fourth quarter when the Redhawks were trying to stop the clock.

"Our team just really came together today again," Swider said, "and our defense in little bits in the beginning we just were playing really well on defense. And then our offense started to come together on all the steals we had. And then toward the end our defense really came together. It was just amazing to see."

Redhawks post player Haley Minick scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Emily Kraft added 11 points, and Hannah Swarm had 10 for Naperville Central.

Kelly Thornton added 11 points for the Falcons.

Follow Orrin on Twitter @Orrin_Schwarz