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Glenbard West builds momentum with win vs. Waubonsie Valley

Cameron Kruse has been part of the Glenbard West girls basketball program long enough to know the Hilltoppers have had a few rough starts in recent years.

This season's 2-0 start feels very good to the Hilltoppers senior guard.

"Compared to the slow starts we've had before, I feel like we really have it going right now," Kruse said after Glenbard West defeated Waubonsie Valley 61-44 in a nonconference game in Glen Ellyn.

A change in coaches can sometimes set a program back, but the Hilltoppers are showing no signs of trouble after two double-digit wins in the first week of the season.

"They've picked things up really quickly," said new Hilltoppers coach Kristi Faulkner, a Glenbard West graduate. "A lot of really smart players, and they're taking it all in and they're executing. They're doing a nice job."

"The first two weeks it took a little bit of time," Kruse added, "but we're finally getting the hang of it. And with these two 'W's' with us, I think we have a lot more confidence in our offense and our defense."

The Hilltoppers got off to a good start and led from start to finish. Freshman Maggie Stutelberg's basket off a Katelyn Heller assist made the score 14-4 with 1:01 left in the first quarter.

Stutelberg came off the bench to lead the Hilltoppers (2-0) with 11 points. Kruse and fellow senior guard Sammy Harris each scored 8, as did sophomore forward Taylor Huff, who added 8 rebounds. Harris and Huff each had 3 assists.

The lead hit 20 midway through the third quarter when Heller made a pair of free throws, making the score 35-15.

"We were looking to run as much as we could and get up and down in transition and the team did that. And then we had a little bit of a letdown and Waubonsie Valley kept fighting and fighting and played hard. They've got some nice players on their side," Faulkner said.

The Warriors (0-1) fought back in the fourth quarter behind junior guard Iwiyisis Osaghae, who scored 12 of her game-high 16 points in the final period.

"We're still working," said Waubonsie Valley coach Brett Love, also in his first year with his program. "I was proud that they fought back and were able to finish and close out the game. We never gave up, which is what I liked. Everybody's buying in to what we're trying to do."

For Love the season opener was an opportunity to evaluate the Warriors in a game situation.

"Coming in we knew we had to work on defense," Love said. "In the fall league that was one of our biggest issues. Even though we were successful in the fall league, we would score but we would give up more points as well. Gotta be able to rotate, gotta be able to communicate and do more of those things that help us be more successful on defense."

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