Top talent quickly emerges as Grayslake North edges Grant

Is it too early in the girls basketball season to introduce its stars?

Such as the dynamic duo of Sidney Lovitsch and Brandi Thibeaux of Grayslake North.

And of course, Grant standout Jasmine Sangster.

Just listen to what Lovitsch said about Sangster.

"She's an amazing player,'' Lovitsch said. "I've seen her play since my freshman year and she's a fabulous ballplayer."

In the opening night for both teams Monday at the annual Mundelein Thanksgiving Tournament, Thibeaux and Lovitsch combined for 34 points.

Sangster scored all of her 14 points in the second half. North held a few double-digit leads - but each time the Bulldogs fought back. North held off the last Grant charge and claimed a 48-44 victory.

Thibeaux nailed the first 3-pointer of the game and the Knights were off and running to a 7-0 lead. However, on a running shot from Grant's Ally Mahinay, that North lead was cut to a single basket at 18-16 late in the first half.

""Once they got a run going, we couldn't stop them,'' Lovitsch said. "It was all mental."

Thibeaux's driving layup gave the Knights a 20-17 halftime lead.

Grayslake North coach Rob Nicoletti knows he has a talented guard in Thibeaux.

"She's great,'' Nicoletti said. "We put a lot of trust in her. We've challenged her to take the next step."

On Thibeaux's second 3-pointer of the third quarter, the Knights had opened a double-digit lead at 34-24.

And then the Bulldogs began to feed the ball to 5-foot-11 Mallory Harrity.

This sophomore had all of her 7 points in the last three minutes of the third quarter.

Grant has hired a new coach this season, but she's a familiar face to North Suburban fans. Onetime Libertyville coach Kathie Swanson has taken over this program.

"We have a lot of individual talent,'' Swanson said. "And in the second half, we played like we are capable of."

Kaleigh Zielinski closed the third quarter scoring for Grant. That 10-point North lead was down to 3 points heading to the final quarter.

Lovitsch (14 points) opened the quarter with her second 3-pointer of the game. Grant's Mahinay answered that three with one of her own, and the Bulldogs were within a 3-pointer with five minutes to play.

Sangster took over the team's offense from that point on. She had a personal 8-point run in the final four minutes. The senior's hook shot at the two-minute mark cut the lead to a single point at 43-42.

Thibeaux, a sophomore, did not back down during crunch time. She led all scorers with 20 points. Her free throw gave the Knights that 4-point lead that closed the game.

"I told them that there is no 4-point play in basketball unless we fouled,'' Nicoletti said.

Tuesday's tourney schedule calls for Grant to battle Glenbrook South (4:30 p.m.), while Grayslake North will battle host Mundelein (7:30 p.m.).