Composed Buffalo Grove knocks off Stevenson

After a tough Mid-Suburban East loss three days earlier, Buffalo Grove was eager to get back on the floor.

Regardless of a conference or nonconference match, the Bison justed wanted to get back in the winning frame of mind.

And that's exactly what they did against a winning girls basketball program from the neighboring town of Lincolnshire.

Led by the balanced scoring of junior Macy Floro (12 points), junior Alyssa Ramos (10) and senior Jackie Bickhaus (9), Buffalo Grove complemented its offense with one of its top defensive games of the season to stop Stevenson 47-31.

"We just needed to get back on our feet and show what we could do," said Floro, whose team fell 48-43 to Wheeling last Friday and will now prepare for Prospect on Friday. "We played a real composed game today and I'm really proud of that."

The game was tied at 12-12 when BG (7-5) took command for good with a 6-0 run, getting a steal and layup by Ramos, a 17-footer from Floro and a fastbreak layup by Bickhaus.

BG held Stevenson to 2 points in the second period and 4 in the third.

"We did a nice job of contesting their shots and not giving them anything easy," said BG coach Steve Kolodziej. "We made them earn everything in that second and third quarter."

"We were just being aggressive on defense," Floro added. "And we were looking to push the ball and play our game on offense. We were just trying to make sure we controlled the tempo of the game."

Kendra Lee and Hannah Young each chipped in 5 points while Megan Fontanetta and Jackie Lavigne also scored for the hosts.

"That was huge," Kolodziej added of the win. "Our kids did a really good job of executing the scouting report and knowing what they needed to do. Stevenson is a nice team and she (coach Ashley Sandstead Graham) does a great job of preparing them."

Graham, a former standout guard for the Bison and Illinois State (where Kolodziej played football), watched junior Avery King (11 points), freshman Simone Sawyer (9) and senior Kristin Hill (8) lead the Patriots (8-5).

"It's a great place (BG) and I have so many positive memories here" Graham said. "I respect so much what Steve is doing with the program. His kids play really hard and they run their system well."

Kolodziej had equal respect for Stevenson.

"I know it's nonconference but that's (Stevenson) a good team and they're from a good conference," he said. "It was a good all-around team effort."

Graham said her team struggled offensively.

"We've got a bunch of young kids who play really hard but we couldn't seem to get anything going offensively" she said. "That's a tribute to Buffalo Grove. They played a real good zone, extended it, and we just couldn't find attacking lanes. Credit BG. They were prepared and played a zone really well."