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Hersey grabs MSL East title

State-ranked Hersey went into Friday's girls basketball game at Rolling Meadows looking to win the Mid-Suburban East title outright.

"We knew even if we lost, we had all the tiebreakers (to clinch a spot in the MSL championship game)," said Huskies coach Mary Fendley. "But we wanted to get there by going 10-0."

The Huskies got there - in impressive fashion.

They broke a 15-15 tie midway through the second quarter with a 22-0 run that extended to midway through the third quarter en route to a 60-44 triumph.

The win gave the Huskies their first undefeated record in the division since 1994 when coach Linda Mass' team won the MSL North and defeated South champion Rolling Meadows for the league title.

That '94 Hersey team featured junior guard Chris Wolf, who would become the all-time leader for assists at Hersey - until Friday night, when senior Kelly Weyhrich tied her record.

Hersey (22-3, 10-0) will host Fremd (23-5, 10-0) for the MSL title on Wednesday at the Carter Gymnasium.

Weyhrich, a four-year varsity starter who won her 97th game, scored 12 points and handed out 4 assists on Friday.

"Just to say we're in the MSL championship game is amazing but I've never been there in my career," Weyhrich said.

The 5-foot-4 guard had no clue she put her name into the Hersey record books for assists.

"As long as my teammates can gets the points and we can win games, that's all that matters," she said. "And if we can get to 100 wins in these four years (which no Hersey boys or girls team has done), it would be amazing, a dream come true."

Also joining Weyhrich in double figures were junior Erin McGrath (14 points), Gina Miklasz (12 points) and Claire Gritt (10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists). Junior Katherine McGrath came off the bench and scored 6 points while Maesyn Benjaming had 9 rebounds.

"Maesyn's rebounding was phenomenal," Fendley said of the 5-7 junior guard.

Defensive whiz Carly Cooper played her role perfectly again and the senior guard also tossed in 4 points.

"Our seniors have been champions since back in sixth grade," said Huskies coach Mary Fendley, who won her 401st career game and third MSL East title, with previous division wins in 2005 and 2011. "They work so hard. They just do everything the right way. They are great teammates. And it's everyone on this team, not just the ones you see playing all the time."

Back-to-back 3-pointers by Melissa Spiwak and Katherine Nolan pulled Meadows (19-7, 8-2) into a 15-15 tie with in 4:50 left in the first half.

"After they hit those 3s, it was like it lit a fire for us," Fendley said. "Our ballhandling and passing was really good then. The kids played great."

McGrath muscled her way up for a layup to ignite the 22-0 run which included two 3-pointers from Gritt and one apiece from Miklasz and Weyhrich.

"We were just playing a great team," said Meadows coach Ryan Kirkorsky. "They do everything well. They make it tough to score. They have great players and are disciplined on both ends of the floor."

Senior Kyra Spiwak and junior Melissa Spiwak each scored 12 points to lead Meadows while Nolan added 10 and Morgan Campagna 6 with 8 rebounds.

"Our kids fought to the final buzzer," Kirkorsky said. "We've been playing well our last seven games. I just wish we would have performed better today.

"But give a lot of credit to Hersey and the things they can do. They are strong and athletic. Our kids feel bad about tonight but we said tomorrow is a new day and we will bring a new mindset."

  Rolling Meadows' Kyra Spiwak delivers to the basket as Hersey defenders Erin McGrath and Carly Cooper stand in her way but fail to stop the attempt on Friday at Meadows. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Hersey's Claire Gritt hits the floor brought down by Meadow's Morgan Campagna in the girls basketball game at Meadows on Friday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
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