Defensive focus suits Grayslake Central

It was early in the second period and the game was still within reach for Highland Park's girls basketball team, which trailed 20-9.

Only Grayslake Central's Maura Fitzgerald and Kate Bullman then helped force back-to-back turnovers with a pair of five-second calls as the Giants couldn't advance the ball on offense.

That kind of pressure defense helped lift the Rams to a 55-34 victory and a 2-0 start in the Warren Blue Devil Classic on Wednesday afternoon in Gurnee.

"We looked a little sharper today," said Rams coach Steve Ikenn, whose girls improved to 9-5 overall and next play Lake Forest at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the third round at Warren. "We needed to tweak a couple of things, but for the most part our defense dictated things for us."

It was a nice turnaround - that is, not having to play from behind as the Rams did Tuesday in an opening-round win over Chicago Phillips.

"Our press was better and we didn't give up a lot of shots and we passed the ball well," Ikenn said.

Highland Park (6-9, 0-2 in the tournament) got off to a fast 6-2 lead after a layup by Halle Abrams.

But then that stifling Rams defense took over and helped produce a 9-0 run and a 15-8 advantage after the opening quarter.

The Rams' defense forced 6 turnovers in the first and carried that over to the second, when it frustrated the Giants to the tune of 8 more.

"Their pressure forced us to play faster and into our offense," said Grayslake Central junior guard Rosie Drevline, who led all scorers with a career-high 20 points. "We wanted to take control of the tempo early. We passed the ball well and my teammates did a great job of getting me the ball."

Drevline's layup capped off that first-quarter run during which Grayslake Central gained some separation. She scored all of her points through the first three quarters, including 11 in the third to help stave off any comeback notions.

"She's a really good player who sees the openings," Ikenn said.

Bullman complemented Drevline with 12 points, while senior guard Payton Gosell chipped in 7 and sophomore guard Madeline Mussay 6.

The biggest lead for Grayslake Central was 22 points, on two occasions late in the fourth quarter.

Senior forward Ania Barnes missed her fourth game with a back injury.

Highland Park junior guard Sydney Ignoffo pumped in 16 points for the Giants, including 4 treys.