Big second half sends West Chicago to victory

As the West Chicago girls basketball team goes down the path of the 2016-17 season, it can use Tuesday night's 55-36 season-opening victory over visiting Nazareth as a reference point on how good a team it can be.

The Wilcats erupted for 36 points in the second half on much better shot selection than the first two quarters and its defense bottled up the Roadrunners for most of the game.

"We know we struggled last year. We're a new team, lots of new players," said junior Sofia Radice, who finished with 10 points. "Before the game we said we would stick together and play the best games possible."

Nazareth led 8-7 after the first quarter and West Chicago led 19-14 at halftime. However, the Wildcats were an icy 8 of 35 from the field over the first 16 minutes.

That change in the third quarter. The Roadrunners (0-1) played their best basketball of the evening during a part of that period.

A Radice free throw put West Chicago up 22-17. Seconds later, Mary Claire Harrington, who led Nazareth with 14 points, hit net to bring the Roadrunners to within three with 5:23 remaining. Amanda Dutchman made it 24-19.

With just over four minutes left, Harrington and Sophia Cullotta sank consecutive 3-pointers and Nazareth had the lead back at 25-24 and West Chicago immediately called a timeout with 3:36 left.

The break did the trick. The Wildcats finished the quarter on an 11-3 run. Radice threw a half-court pass to a racing Maddie Brotnow, who converted a layup. That was followed by two consecutive fastbreak buckets by Sierra Koenig off Roadrunners turnovers to put West Chicago up 32-25, forcing Nazareth to call a timeout with 1:07 left in the quarter.

Koenig finished with a game-high 19 points, 17 of which came in the second half.

"It feels great. We only had a few wins last year and it's great to get a win right off the bat," Koenig said.

The Wildcats shot 70 percent from the field in the third quarter.

"(Coach Kim Wallner) said at halftime to keep it up, keeping pushing and go for the easier shots," Koenig said. "If we made layups that would boost our confidence to make longer shots."

Koenig's shot with just under 6:30 left in the game gave West Chicago its first double-digit lead of the game and season, 40-30.