Strength in numbers as Hersey impresses in opener
Playing on the same court together for the first time since eighth grade at St. James School in Arlington Heights, the McGrath triplets made history on Thursday night.
All three juniors - Erin, Katie and Sarah - scored a basket for Hersey's girls basketball team. That's a first for the program, and probably for any team in the 43 years that there has been girls basketball in the Mid-Suburban League.
The Huskies had plenty of other baskets, too, rolling to a 74-27 victory over Barrington in the first-round game of the Bison Classic.
The sisters' scoring feat did not come without drama.
Sarah McGrath, who came off the bench in the final quarter, just beat the final buzzer with a 12-footer from the wing for her first varsity points.
"It was really fun playing out there with my sisters," said Sarah, who had to miss last season following knee surgery her freshman year. "I love practicing with them every day."
Katie McGrath had 7 rebounds and Erin 6 to lead Hersey on the boards.
"That's amazing," said Huskies senior guard Kelly Weyhrich of the triplets' scoring feat. "They all play so well together. And Sarah coming back from the knee surgery is awesome."
Weyrich, meanwhile, was pretty amazing too. She finished with 14 assists, tying the school record. And senior Claire Gritt was awesome from the field, converting 10 of 12 shots, including five 3-pointers, to lead Hersey with 25 points. Gina Miklasz hit four 3-pointers to finish with a career-high 17 points.
The Huskies had five 3-pointers in the first quarter en route to a 24-4 advantage.
"I thought our defense looked good across the board," said Huskies coach Mary Fendley. "They had a big height advantage at every position but I thought we adjusted well and Kelly (Weyhrich) bringing the ball up the court helped with that."
Weyhrich (7 points, 1 three-pointer) was able to zip the ball to her open teammates, and ended up with 8 assists in the first half.
Her final one was to classmate Carly Cooper, who hit a 15-footer that gave the hosts a 35-12 lead late in the second quarter.
Cooper, who was celebrating her 18th birthday, finished with 5 points, the same as freshman Sydney Hemenway, who had one the Huskies' 11 3-pointers while scoring her first varsity points.
"We just did a really good job playing together," Weyhrich said. "Everyone contributed."
Freshman forward Taylor Thompson and senior Alex Van Ryne contributed 8 points apiece for Barrington.
"Taylor gave us some nice minutes for her first varsity game," said Barrington coach Babbi Barreiro. "And Alex Kelly (sophomore guard), too, off the bench.
"We knew playing our first game against a seasoned Hersey team on its home floor would be tough. But I don't think our kids quit. They never gave up."
Barreiro felt the defense gave up too many open looks.
"We'll have to improve on that defensively," she said. "And I thought we needed to get the ball into the post more than we did.
"Overall, it's a long season and we are really enjoying this group of kids and how hard they work. I know they will get better and improve with every game. I have a lot of faith in them and I believe in them."