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Glenbard North withstands West Chicago comeback

Glenbard North is 2-0 this season, but the Panthers aren't ready to celebrate.

"It's great, but the most important thing is the next one," Panthers senior Trinity Medina said.

"Winning helps everything," first-year Glenbard North coach Stephen Wit added. "Guarded against forgetting that there's things we've got to work on. West Chicago, they play hard. They're always a good rivalry game for us. It's a nice win."

Thursday's 41-33 nonconference victory against visiting West Chicago (0-2) didn't come without some late-game drama.

After falling behind 31-11 midway through the third quarter, the Wildcats went on a 17-3 run, coming within 6 points with 1:57 to play on a Sierra Koenig basket. Glenbard North, which didn't score a field goal in the fourth quarter, held off the Wildcats at the free-throw line.

"Too much dribbling, not enough talk," Medina said. "We kind of took it into our own hands individually instead of playing as a team. But once we got together we just brought it back."

It also helped that "our coaches knocked some sense into our heads," Medina said, with some strong vocal encouragement.

Trailing 33-16 after three quarters, the Wildcats scored 17 in the fourth by cutting down on turnovers and hitting their shots.

"We made adjustments," said first-year West Chicago coach Dan Vashinko. "They had a nice trapping press, half-court. We made adjustments, slowed the ball down and were able to find open shots. First half we didn't make too many shots. Second half we got more baskets. That really helped. Some 3s went down. Better decision-making."

Lauren Lee led the Panthers with 14 points, 10 of them in the second half. Leah Miller hit three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points before fouling out.

"I've got some really good senior leaders," Wit said. "Leah steps up and hits 3s. She's in foul trouble and hits those huge baskets in the those few minutes that she was in. That was really big for us. Lauren Lee, once again, great senior leader, wants the ball in those key situations. I think (we're) just settling in to who we are and what we're trying to do. A lot of new stuff. They're a great group of kids."

Koenig led all scorers with 19 points and added 7 rebounds.

"We really learned tonight about what we can and can't do," Vashinko said. "That really helps."

  Glenbard North's Arielle Capel tries to get past West Chicago's Maggie Culver, right, during a varsity girls basketball game at Neal Hudson Gymnasium on the campus of Glenbard North Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
  Glenbard North's head coach Stephen Wit keeps an eye on the action against West Chicago during a varsity girls basketball game at Neal Hudson Gymnasium on the campus of Glenbard North Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
  West Chicago's Sierra King, left, looks for an option as she is guarded by Glenbard North's Brea King during a varsity girls basketball game at Neal Hudson Gymnasium on the campus of Glenbard North Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
  West Chicago's Sam Wiegele moves through traffic during a varsity girls basketball game at Neal Hudson Gymnasium on the campus of Glenbard North Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
  West Chicago's Bella Lamantia, left, keeps the ball from Glenbard North's Aprill Johnson during a varsity girls basketball game at Neal Hudson Gymnasium on the campus of Glenbard North Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
  West Chicago's head coach Dan Vashinko rallies his troops during a varsity girls basketball game at Neal Hudson Gymnasium on the campus of Glenbard North Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
  West Chicago's Catherine Miller, right, battles Glenbard North's Lauren Lee for control of the ball during a varsity girls basketball game at Neal Hudson Gymnasium on the campus of Glenbard North Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
  Glenbard North's Nevaeh King moves the ball during a varsity girls basketball game at Neal Hudson Gymnasium on the campus of Glenbard North Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
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