Girls Basketball

'Hyped' Benet leaves no doubt against Oswego

Posted February 24, 2020 12:00 am

Orrin Schwarz

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Benet's Ashley Berry looks to pass the basketball against Oswego during the IHSA class 4A Benet sectional semifinal in Lisle on Feb. 24. The Redwings won 62-36. Jeff Krage/For Shaw Media Illinois

Benet has played plenty of close girls basketball games this season. Now it's enjoying some playoff blowouts.

The host Redwings, the sectional's No. 1 seed and the state's No. 1-ranked team, made clear early how Monday's Class 4A sectional semifinal would go, leaving no doubt in a 62-36 victory against Oswego in Lisle.

Benet won its regional games by 31 and 37 points.

"I think just ever since the Evanston game (the regular-season finale) we've been pretty hyped for all of our games because we played so well that game," Benet senior Brooke Schramek said. "So just going off that game and into practices, you can just tell there's a difference."

In fact the Redwings might have been too hyped against fifth-seeded Oswego (21-11). They weren't quite at their best because of it.

"I think our effort was great," Benet coach Joe Kilbride said. "I thought we were a little excited. I wrote 'Calm down' on the board at halftime. I just thought our composure was a little less than stellar. But they're playing really hard, we rebounded great, our defense was really good, we ran the floor really well. I thought we got downhill and attacked really well. We just were a little excited.

"All of a sudden it seems like every kid on the team has had two Red Bulls and a cappuccino. I'm hoping we can grow from this and just calm down, be in the moment a little bit on Thursday."

Still, the Redwings (29-2) led from start to finish, jumping out to a 19-7 lead after one quarter. By halftime it was 32-14.

"Today I think a lot of it was we had a lot of nerves in the beginning and then those went away," Redwings senior Allison Forney said. "Then we were just were so hyped up: home court, sectional, so I think we were just really hyped up and we just had to take it down maybe one notch and calm down a little bit."

The Redwings made sure there was no repeat of the Jan. 25 game against Oswego, a 4-point Benet win.

"We were like, we're not letting that happen again," Schramek said. "I think we all had the same mindset and we just went in and we did what we had to do."

Schramek and senior guard Kendall Holmes led Benet with 15 points apiece. Forney scored 10 off the bench.

"They were great," Oswego coach John Carlson said of the Redwings. "They made their shots. We didn't make any shots tonight. I think that was the difference in it."

Jenelle Rogers scored 18 to lead Oswego.

Benet will take on the winner of Tuesday's sectional semifinal between No. 2 Bolingbrook and No. 3 Naperville North at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Benet's Molly Sheehan dribbles near the Oswego student section during the IHSA class 4A Benet sectional semifinal in Lisle on Feb. 24. The Redwings won 62-36. Jeff Krage/For Shaw Media Illinois

Benet's Brooke Schramek brings the basketball up the court against Oswego during the IHSA class 4A Benet sectional semifinal in Lisle on Feb. 24. The Redwings won 62-36. Jeff Krage/For Shaw Media Illinois

Benet's Allison Forney (4) is bumped by Oswego's Angelina Schlinger while grabbing a rebound during the IHSA class 4A Benet sectional semifinal in Lisle on Feb. 24. The Redwings won 62-36. Jeff Krage/For Shaw Media Illinois

Benet's Lenee Beaumont drives the baseline against Oswego during the IHSA class 4A Benet sectional semifinal in Lisle on Feb. 24. The Redwings won 62-36. Jeff Krage/For Shaw Media Illinois

Benet's Kendall Moriarty charges into Oswego's Mia Moore for an offensive foul during the IHSA class 4A Benet sectional semifinal in Lisle on Feb. 24. The Redwings won 62-36. Jeff Krage/For Shaw Media Illinois

Benet's Lexi Moriarty grabs an offensive rebound against Oswego during the IHSA class 4A Benet sectional semifinal in Lisle on Feb. 24. The Redwings won 62-36. Jeff Krage/For Shaw Media Illinois

Benet's Kendall Holmes has her shot blocked by Oswego's Olivia Solis during the IHSA class 4A Benet sectional semifinal in Lisle on Feb. 24. The Redwings won 62-36. Jeff Krage/For Shaw Media Illinois

Benet's Kendall Holmes and Oswego's Jenelle Rogers battle for a loose basketball during the IHSA class 4A Benet sectional semifinal in Lisle on Feb. 24. The Redwings won 62-36. Jeff Krage/For Shaw Media Illinois

Benet's Morgan Demos takes a shot against Oswego during the IHSA class 4A Benet sectional semifinal in Lisle on Feb. 24. The Redwings won 62-36. Jeff Krage/For Shaw Media Illinois

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