Defensive gem as Grant handles Grayslake North

The 38 turnovers that the Grant girls basketball team forced upon Grayslake North on Friday isn't even a season-best.

The Bulldogs and their tough pressure defense forced 40 turnovers earlier this season in a game over the Thanksgiving holiday.

While the goal each game isn't necessarily to beat the 40-forced turnover mark, being relentless on defense certainly is, and the Bulldogs were just that in their 44-35 Northern Lake County Conference win over host Grayslake North.

"We just have good defense," said Grant point guard Mercedes Uribe, who prides herself on setting the tone defensively with aggressive on-ball pressure of the opposition's primary ballhandler. "We're always in their faces.

"Before the game, we said that we were going to get up in their faces and D-up on them because that's our biggest strength. We're fast, long and aggressive. All of us."

Grant, which improves to 11-4 overall and 5-1 in the NLCC, set the tone early. Its nagging defense immediately wore on Grayslake North, and caused 11 first-quarter turnovers. But the Bulldogs were up only 8-4 going into the second quarter because they couldn't hit shots. They were just 4-of-15 from the field in the first quarter.

Grayslake North then tied the game early in the second quarter (11-11), thanks in part to a 7-1 run that included a 3-pointer from Savannah Guenther.

But Grant finished out the first half with a 10-3 run to take a 21-14 lead at the break.

Grant never relinquished the lead and was up by as many as 12 points in the fourth quarter. Uribe, who finished with 10 points, helped to ice the game for the Bulldogs by hitting 6-of-7 fourth-quarter free throws.

"I'm short (5-foot-1), so I have to be (scrappy)," said Uribe, who forced her fair share of turnovers. "That's how I stay in the game. With defense."

Grant center Mallory Harrity also finished in double figures with 10 points. She was particularly active on the offensive boards. All 8 of her rebounds were on the offensive end and several led to putbacks.

Grant had a 16-8 edge on the offensive boards.

"It's a conference game and conference games are tough because you know them and they know you and nothing is easy. It's going to be physical and tough and you've got to play stronger," Grant coach Kevin Geist said. "We try to dictate things with our defense, not reaching, using our feet. We try to work on all of us being on the same page. I like our intensity and how we keep that focus for the entire game."

Grant also got 9 points from Ally Mahinay and 6 points each out of both Brooke Karpinske and Kennedy Kiesgen.

Guenther topped Grayslake North with 14 points, and finished with two 3-pointers. Sister Abbey Guenther added 6 points for the Knights.