Benet too fast for Bolingbrook
Bolingbrook likes to play fast, but so does Benet.
In Monday's Oswego East sectional semifinal the Redwings used a fast start to jump ahead and then ran with the Raiders the rest of the way in an 85-66 win to notch the school's record-setting 30th win and advance to Thursday's sectional final.
Emily Schramek, who had 6 points at the half, busted out for 16 in the second half, including a trio of 3-pointers that made sure Bolingbrook (15-12) could not pull off the comeback.
"Lately my shot has been off and (coach Joe Kilbride) has been talking to us about anchoring our emotions," said Schramek, who scored 7 points in the third quarter as the Redwings built a 56-41 lead. "Seeing yourself making shots and that's what I was doing at halftime. I trust in myself and I knew that my team trusted in me to keep shooting. So I was open and I didn't hesitate to shoot."
Top-seeded Benet, which will take a 30-3 record into the sectional final against either No. 2 Neuqua Valley or No. 3 Oswego, Benet jumped ahead 16-6 after one quarter with Kathleen Doyle accounting for seven early points and the Raiders guilty of 9 turnovers in the first eight minutes of play. Bolingbrook opened the second quarter with an 8-0 run to close to within 2 points, but Doyle then set up Kathleen Jaseckas for a layup and followed that up with a short jumper.
"Once again our pressure in the full court is really helping us," said Doyle, who had 20 points, 9 assists and 3 steals. "It helps you play more aggressively. We try and get offense based on our defense."
Doyle and her teammates were looking forward to playing a Bolingbrook team that likes to get up and down the floor.
"We like playing fast, so Mr. Kilbride said they like to play fast too, so it's going to be a fun game for both of us. We just came out on the good side of it," she said.
While Schramek and Doyle each reached 20 points, the Redwings also got 16 points apiece from Elise Stout and Emily Eshoo. It was a 3-pointer by Eshoo followed by a Morgan Thomalla fastbreak that helped Benet get back on track late in the half after the Raiders' little spurt. The Redwings led 33-21 at halftime.
"They played fast, we played fast, but I think we were able to shoot a little bit better today," Kilbride said. "And we didn't turn it over as much and that was the difference."
The Raiders, who were led by 16 points from Bennita Drain, had 16 giveaways in the first half and 26 on the night.
"What did we have, 16 in the first half?" Bolingbrook coach Chris Smith asked. "We talked about that coming in. We come in here and we turn the ball over like that we don't stand a chance. But some of that credit goes to their pressure."
The Raiders had a little run in the third quarter but could get the deficit to single digits and the Redwings' outside shooting - along with a number of easy buckets against a press - made it too much of an uphill battle for the Raiders.
"She was hot, and when she gets feeling it she can shoot it," Kilbride said of Schramek's second-half shooting. "Emily Eshoo too. But Schramek has no conscious. When she gets it gong she can really knock them down."