Buffalo Grove still perfect in MSL East
Buffalo Grove's girls basketball team is one win away from an accomplishment that hasn't happened at the school for almost 10 years.
After Tuesday's 45-27 win at Prospect, the Mid-Suburban East champs will be looking for their first undefeated conference season since coach Tom Dineen's 2006-07 club.
The Bison improved to 21-4 and 9-0 at the Jean Walker Field House as senior Maddie Welter scored a game-high 17 points.
Senior Natalie Dimitrova also broke into double figures with 10 points while classmate Sammy Stejskal chipped in 8.
BG clinched the East title outright with the win and will visit West champ Fremd (22-2, 9-0) for the MSL crown next Wednesday.
"I could not be more proud for our senior group," said BG coach Steve Kolodziej. "This is something these girls have striven for their entire careers.
"The whole team has been committed and we will continue to take it one game at time, one quarter at time, and play at a time."
Brenda Kendziera and Angela Roman led Prospect (8-17, 2-7) with 8 points apiece.
"We played some of our best basketball," said Prospect coach Gabrielle Lovin, whose team trailed 19-15 at half. "The third quarter we got some wide open shots and just couldn't hit them. We also had our defense fall apart in the fourth."
BG led 31-24 after three quarters.
"Being down 7 there is something we need to be proud of," Lovin added. "We allowed them to score 71 points the first time we played. They had 45 today. They are a good team, great at transition and moving the ball. Hats off to the conference champions."
Hersey 54, Rolling Meadows 44: Celebrating senior night, Hersey broke out in front 12-5 after one quarter en route to its 21st win in 25 games.
Seniors Maggie Berigan, Susan Lindstrom, Claire Niemczyk and Delaney Parker were honored before the game.
"Our seniors make us go," said Hersey coach Mary Fendley, whose club has defeated two top ten teams (Huntley and New Trier) in the Class 4A state poll. "Their leadership skills are a constant presence at practice and games.
"You can't have a great team without excellent leaders. Thanks to Maggie, Delaney, Susan and Claire, we have that."
Junior Claire Gritt (three 3-pointers) led Hersey with 20 points, followed by sophomore Erin McGrath (11), Niemczyk (7) and junior Gina Miklasz (6).
Kyra Spiwak (11 points) and Morgan Campagna (10) led Meadows (16-9, 5-4).
Barrington 45, Palatine 32: Kelly Katis (14 points), Abigail Elo (9), Megan Talbot (8) and Auri Grayson (6) led host Barrington (11-12, 6-3) in the MSL West match.
Talbot also collected 14 rebounds, 2 steals.
"I thought Megan played really good defense and had a great rebounding game," said Barrington coach Babbi Barreiro. "Auri Grayson did a real nice job on the offensive boards too. She kept the ball alive for us. And Rachel Mori had a nice game."
Barreiro liked the way the defense stepped up.
"That was the best part," she said. "We didn't shoot the ball that well that whole first half. We really turned up the pressure at the end of the first quarter and we were able to get a little bit of a cushion with our lead."
Carrissa Multon led Palatine (9-16, 1-8) with 8 points.
Hoffman Estates 55, Conant 54: Hoffman Estates' girls basketball team gave itself just enough of a cushion against visiting Conant (9-15, 3-6) in MSL West play.
The Hawks were able to grab a 4-point lead with about 10 seconds left, and those 4 points were important the way Conant junior Jorie Wachal was shooting the ball.
She got one final 3-point field goal attempt and made it, uncontested, for the game's final points.
"The girls thought maybe I was a little crazy, but I was telling them, 'Just stand there - don't go near her,' " said Hoffman Estates coach Mike Koester.
Wachal finished with 8 field goals, and five of them were 3s. She also went 13-for-16 at the free throw line to finish with a game-high 34 points.
Britney Laskero had 7 points for Conant and was one of four additional players to make a 3-pointer.
Hoffman Estates (10-15, 2-7) got a team-high 17 points from senior guard Erin Hanson, while junior Monraia Wilson had 13 and sophomore Tayler Williams had 10. Each of them made a 3.
Wilson closed to within 9 points of 1,000 for her career.
Wheeling 48, Elk Grove 31: Junior Melissa Claver scored a game-high 25 points (9-of-11 free throws) to lead the host Wildcats (12-14, 3-6) in the MSL East.
Sophomore Nansy Velev chipped in 8 points with a pair of 3-pointers while junior Shannon Kennedy (5 points) also hit one from long range.
Senior Alex Masnica led Elk Grove (3-20, 1-8) with 11 points (three 3-pointers) while classmates Abbey Sloan each contributed 6 points.