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Great start lifts Naperville Central past Metea Valley

Naperville Central opened Tuesday night's girls basketball game at Metea Valley like they were fighting for first place for the DuPage Valley Conference championship.

The Redhawks scored 40 points in the first half on their way to a 71-57 victory that put them atop the DVC along with Wheaton Warrenville South. Neuqua Valley is half a game back.

"We got off to a really fast start," Naperville Central senior Hannah Swarm said. "We really picked up the intensity on defense and we knew that we could fastbreak and get out in transition and get some points that way."

The Redhawks (18-7, 9-2) were a determined bunch in the first half. They took a 25-6 lead after one quarter, 41-17 at halftime while committing a measly 2 turnovers. They made 16 of 38 shots in the half.

"We were really unselfish in the first half," Swarm said. "Everyone was passing the ball around, everyone was getting open looks and that was contributing to very few turnovers."

The Mustangs (7-15, 3-9) tried fighting back into the game in the third and fourth quarters, putting together a 40-point half of their own. They pulled within 12 points late in the third quarter on a Brianna Hall three-point play, but Swarm answered with a 2-point basket and sophomore Mia Lakstigala followed with a 3 to get the Redhawks the momentum back. Cheyenne Krehl's hoop midway through the fourth quarter again brought the margin to 12 points, but again the Redhawks answered.

"I think that's been our season," Metea Valley coach Cedric Williams said. "We get ourselves in a situation in the first half where we get ourselves in a bind and then we try to pull ourselves out in the second half. We don't have the depth to do that, so we have to come out in the beginning of the game. We have to have that fight at the beginning. We're falling short right now with that approach."

Hall scored a game-best 20 points, 18 in the second half. Janiece Thomas added 16 points and freshman Ashley Konkle had 12, 8 in the first half when the Mustangs were looking for a spark.

"They were making plays down low," Swarm said. "It definitely is tough to guard their bigs. We knew that. We just had to adjust and get back into the rhythm of the game and we'd be fine."

Lakstigala's 18 points led the Redhawks. Swarm added 17 points, with 6 rebounds and 5 steals. Teteak scored a dozen points with 5 assists, 5 rebounds and 4 steals.

The Redhawks host WW South at 7:15 p.m. Thursday with the winner taking first place in the league all to itself.

Follow Orrin on Twitter @Orrin_Schwarz

  Meryl Barnes of Metea, left, and Mia Lakstigala of Naperville Central go after a loose ball during game action Tuesday. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
  Mia Lakstigala of Naperville Central prepares for the start of Tuesday's game. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
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