Eleven 3-pointers not quite enough for Meadows

With a 21-2 record, Mother McAuley's girls basketball team has lost to only one team this season.

Rolling Meadows missed becoming the second team (other than Montini) to defeat the state-ranked Mighty Macs of Chicago.

But the Mustangs didn't miss much from 3-point range and gave Mother McAuley all it could handle in the 29th annual Coach Kipp's Hoopsfest at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park on Monday.

The Mustangs tossed home a season-high 11 3-pointers from 22 attempts however, it wasn't quite enough as Mother McAuley held on for a 58-52 win.

"Oh my god, tell me about it," said Mighty Macs coach Ashley Luke-Clanton when told about the Mustangs' 11 3-pointers. "They shot the lights out.

"We knew they could shoot. Did we expect them to shoot that well? No. I don't think we expect anyone to shoot that well."

Leading the 3-point parade was freshman Moira Hickey, who hit 4-of-6 for her 12 points.

Seniors Alexa Davis and Lily Greifenstein each had 13 points, with three and two 3-pointers respectively.

Classmates Elise Kowalski and Kristin Dillon also hit from long range for the Mustangs (16-6).

"We shot really well and I hope we keep shooting like that," Davis said. "Our coach (Ryan Kirkorsky) was proud of how we played. He said they (McAuley, which won the Buffalo Grove Thanksgiving tourney) were a really good team. We just have to keep going back to practice to work hard and do the same in games."

Although the Mustangs led only once, the game was tied three times. Mother McAuley enjoyed its biggest lead at 31-24 and also had a 13-3 run.

Meadows' biggest run was 8-2, when it got back-to-back 3-pointers in the second half from Hickey.

Junior Susannah Holifield (4 points, 2 assists) led the Mustangs with 6 rebounds while Hickey had 5 rebounds. Greifenstein and Hickey each handed out 4 assists.

"I thought our kids played great," Kirkorsky said. "There is a reason they (Mother McAuley) are one of the top-ranked teams (ninth in Class 4A) and I can't ask for much more from out team.

"We got a lot of contributions from a lot of kids. We just needed a few more stops down the stretch to beat a team that good."

McAuley was led by junior guard Jenna Badali's game-high 26 points, that included four 4-pointers. The Mighty Macs were 6-of-22 from 3-point land.

"We told our kids Mother McAuley presses so you have to attack pressure with pressure," Kirkorsky added. "And we hit a lot of 3-pointers but I thought they were good shots for us."

Buffalo Grove splits: Junior Kendra Lee scored a game-high 19 points to lead the Bison to a 63-54 win over Grant in the MLK tournament at Lake Forest High School. Teammate Macy Floro added 13 points.

The Bison (13-10) also lost a 46-42 thriller to Lake Forest in OT as Lee (13 points), Megan Fontanetta (10) and Alyssa Ramos (7) were the top scorers for BG.

Palatine splits: At Lake Forest's MLK tourney, freshman Madi Stark (12 points) hit a running left-handed layup as time expired to give the Pirates a 46-44 win over Highland Park.

The Pirates (6-16) rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit and trailed by 6 points after three quarters.

Junior Melanie Simon led the Pirates with 13 points and teammate Olivia Radtke added 8.

Simon also led Palatine with 18 points in a 56-51 loss to Grant. Simon was 14-of-22 from the free throw lane. Kayla Miotk added 10 points.

Hoffman Estates 47, Niles North 33 The Hawks raised their record to 8-16 with the nonconference win. Leading the way were senior Berry Chukwuyem (15 points), senior Raven Wilson (13) and freshman Ashley Oliver (8).