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Downers Grove South's Greco, Lueken celebrate with big win

Downers Grove South seniors Holly Lueken and Maggie Greco have been playing varsity girls basketball for four years.

It shows.

The pair mesh so well together on the court that it looks like they've been teammates forever. So Downers South coach Lyndsie Long was thrilled, though not surprised, at how the pair performed Saturday in a 59-21 Senior Night victory over Leyden.

Lueken, a 6-foot-1 Colgate recruit, continued her tremendous senior season by racking up 26 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks, while Greco ran the point with aplomb. The George Washington softball recruit finished with 9 points, 6 rebounds and 5 steals.

"We do (take it for granted)," Long said. "Holly and Maggie are great leaders on the court and off the court, so we definitely look for those two every single game to be our top two scorers.

"They just want to win games, especially on Senior Night."

The Mustangs (13-7, 7-2 West Suburban Gold) wasted no time in getting down to business. Lueken assisted on back-to-back 3-pointers by sophomore Meghan Stapleton on Downers South's first two possessions and Greco followed with a steal that led to a basket by senior Jaylyn Grant.

"I think starting the game our energy was really (high) and right off the bat we started playing team basketball," Lueken said. "So the fact that we were able to move (the ball) and get a couple quick 3s really helped us with our momentum in the beginning."

That momentum quickly snowballed and there was nothing Leyden (6-15, 2-7) could do to stop it. Lueken ripped off 11 straight points before Greco's steal and coast-to-coast layup boosted the lead to 21-4 late in the first quarter.

Stapleton scored 12 of her 15 points in the first half for the Mustangs, who led 33-14 at halftime and coasted the rest of the way to remain tied in the loss column with co-leaders Willowbrook and Proviso East in the WSC Gold race.

"Every game matters," Long said. "We knew if we got off to a great start it would help us throughout the game. The seniors played hard."

The Mustangs still have at least three more home games, but this one was particularly memorable for Lueken and Greco.

"This season has been probably my favorite and it's so special to me, especially to come out and Senior Night and play well with everyone," said Lueken, averaging 20 points a game. "It was a good time.

"I'm really grateful for all my teammates and coaches and it's going to be really hard to say goodbye."

Greco can't believe how quickly high school has gone by and cherishes the time spent with Lueken.

"I couldn't have asked for a better teammate," Greco said. "Freshman year was probably the most awkward season because me and her were just kind of trying to get in the groove of things.

"But I've seen her develop as a player, a teammate and a person just all in one, on and off the court. She's just such an amazing person and I'm proud of her as a teammate and a friend."

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