Maine West rolls past Hersey
Maine West's girls basketball team didn't waste any time showing it means business again this winter.
The Class 4A third-place finisher eight months ago scored the first 9 points in Monday's night's opening game and never looked back en route to a 63-32 triumph over defending Mid-Suburban League champion Hersey in Des Plaines.
The Warriors feature a pair of future Division I players in senior Rachel Kent and Angela Dugalic but they also showed they have plenty of other weapons.
Junior guard Dylan VanFleet, who plays soccer in the spring, scored the game's first 6 points - two on rebound layups and the third basket on a layup following a steal and assist from Vanessa Reyes.
"I feel my role and the team's role is to keep up the legacy we started a few years ago when coach (Derril) Kipp (late hall of famer) was here," VanFleet said. "He got this group going and hopefully we can make it far again this season."
Dugalic led the Warriors with a game-high 20 points, 8 steals, 6 rebounds and 2 assists while VanFleet, who scored in double figures one time all last winter, equaled her career high of 12 points.
"I think a lot of times people want to look at the stars that a team supposedly has but we try not to be a team of stars," said Warriors third-year coach Kim de Marigny. "We want everyone to be able to participate to be a scoring threat, a rebounding threat, a defensive threat, or you name it."
One name everyone knows is that of Kent, the four-year starter headed to St. Louis University.
She collected 7 points while making her presence felt with 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Jocelyn Jacob came off the bench to score 6 points while Lena Albo and Jane Rothweiler each chipped in 5.
"Last year, we had a lot of leadership and players with big roles who we of looked up to," VanFleet added. "We saw how they were always hustling and we know that's what we have to do all the time now. And when coach 'D' sees we are not hustling, then we are doing something wrong."
de Marigny saw a lot of 'right' from VanFleet.
"That's Dylan's game," the coach said. "She is very active. Just because she may not be as big in stature as maybe Angela or Rachel, it does not discount the heart that girl has. She's a competitor through and through. It doesn't matter if it's soccer, basketball or Wiffle ball."
Sophomore guard Mary Kate Fahey led Hersey with 9 points followed by seniors Emily Collins (7) and senior Chelsea Manoj (6), who hit a pair of 3-pointers.
"Chelsea came in and hit some nice shots," said Hersey coach Mary Fendley. "And she gave us a spark on defense."
Fendley hopes an early schedule with quality opponents helps sparks the Huskies later.
"I'm trying to think of how in early December last year we lost to Marist by 33 points and then we started making progress," she said. "We played Marist at the Montini tournament and lost by only 3. I would like to think we are that team again where we will gradually figure it out."
Fendley was hardly surprised by West's strong effort.
"I knew how good they would be," she said. "I didn't know we would come out with the nerves we did. The turnovers and our offensive rebounding hurt us at the beginning. Hopefully that will be uncharacteristic of us. But credit their excellent defense. I don't think there are going to be many teams in the state that are going to put pressure on the ball like that."