A senior-driven success story for Hersey
After graduating one of her finest senior classes a year ago, Hersey girls basketball coach Mary Fendley couldn't have been more proud of her senior group this winter as well.
They were honored before the game, along with manager Madison Burkhalter, on Senior Night - and then went out and got their biggest win of the conference season.
Tuesday's 46-44 decision over visiting Rolling Meadows pulled the Huskies to within 1 win of claiming a tie for the Mid-Suburban East crown.
The Huskies, Rolling Meadows and Prospect all stand at 8-2 with one game left.
Prospect visits Rolling Meadows on Friday and Hersey travels to Buffalo Grove.
Junior Emily Collins led Hersey with 15 points, including 10 in the second half when the Huskies (14-12) rallied from a 25-13 halftime deficit.
"I can't say enough about Emily Collins," Fendley said. "But equally important to this win was all six of our seniors. The four who played (Claire Rogowski, Erin McGrath, Katie McGrath and Maesyn Benjamin), and honestly all six.
"Our six seniors are such a great display of team before self. They were the ones who said we are going to put it all on the table like we've been used to all season. And I don't there think are a whole lot of seniors who would make as strong a statement as Haley (Skiko) and Sarah (McGrath) did for us with their pure desire to get a win in this important game."
Even though the Hukies were 4-of-16 in the paint in the first half, Fendley said the important thing was that they were getting shots.
"At half, I said 'We're going to be 12-of-16' in the second half," she said. "And thanks to Katie McGrath (all 10 of her points in the second half), we might have been."
Katie McGrath helped Hersey outscore Meadows 16-2 in the third quarter, scoring 3 baskets while Benjamin had two and Collins one.
Benjamin's layup at the buzzer gave Hersey a 29-27 lead going into the final period.
The Huskies opened up with a 7-0 run in the fourth quarter, capped by Collins' nice fake and 13-footer for a 36-27 lead.
But Meadows kicked it back onto gear and got to within 36-35 on Melissa Spiwak's fastbreak layup with 3:21 left in the game.
Hersey built the lead back to 42-35 and 44-37 with 1:55 left, thanks to a pair of free throws by Erin McGrath, who was 4-of-4 from the line in the final quarter. The Huskies were 7 of 8 in the final quarter.
"We've been good at free throws all season until the last couple of weeks," Fendley said. "And then we made them today when it counted."
Meadows made another charge, getting a 3-pointer from Bridget Rolla, 2 free throws from Susannah Holfield and 2 from Alexa Davis with 37.9 seconds left to pull to within 46-44.
After a Hersey turnover, the Mustangs got the ball back with 30.9 second left.
They ended up missing a 17-footer at the buzzer in attempt to take the game to OT.
"I'm proud of our kids," said Rolling Meadows coach Ryan Kirkorsky. "I thought in the fourth quarter we showed resiliency after they went on the third quarter.
"And obviously they showed resiliency after what happened in the first half."
Meadows hit three 3s in the second quarter (Alexa Davis, Lily Greifenstein and Holifield) to take the big halftime lead.
"At half, I told the girls they were doing everything right," Fendley said. "I said our half-court defense was fantastic. I told them they hit three 3-pointers off offensive rebounds. You take away those and we were right there.
"Even though we were down 12, I thought it was a good sign that we were getting good shots. It was our Senior Night and we were at our place (Carter Gymnasium) so I knew we were going to start hitting shots."
Benjamin finished with 11 points and 9 rebounds. Katie McGrath also had 8 rebounds while Erin McGrath had 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Rogowski and freshman Mary Kate Fahey (4 points) each chipped in a basket.
"It was very fun," Benjamin said. "It was a great team win. During halftime we talked about sticking together and hopefully we would get the win."
"Our seniors this year knew we had to step up. We were the leaders and taking that role has been very fun."
Rolla led Meadows with 15 points while Holifield added 10 and Davis 7.
The Mustangs (17-8) can take a share of the title with a win at home against Prospect on Friday.
"I would say this is the kind of game you would expect at this time of the season with teams fighting for conference titles," Kirkorsky said. "We're just looking for our kids to respond the next couple of days in practice and in the game on Friday."
"Buffalo Grove is playing really well," Fendley said. "We know it comes down to Friday and we're just going to try and take care of our end of it and finish 8-2."