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Libertyville downs Hersey in OT

Usually, basketball games tend to be played in either the afternoon or evening so how does one prepare for a late morning start?

Libertyville's Margaret Buchert has it timed down to a minute detail.

"I make sure to get up an hour prior to our departure time so I can have a peanut butter bagel before leaving for school. Then both on the way to school I listen to rap music to get myself ready."

By the time their Bison Classic matchup versus Hersey was over, it was clear that the 5-foot-7 junior guard's routine worked to perfection for the Wildcats in a 58-51 overtime win.

"We were determined to get a win today," Buchert said. "We knew coming in that it was going to be a tough game against a very good Hersey team and when it came down to late in the game, I wanted to be the one who had the ball."

Her game-high 22 points came when Libertyville (1-1) needed it most as it rallied from a 4-point deficit (46-42) in the final 3:24 of regulation. Buchert scored 5 straight points with a reverse layup followed by a 12-foot runner in the lane that tied the contest at 46 with 2:32 left. Buchert then connected at the charity stripe on the front end of a one-and-bonus 16 ticks later giving the Wildcats a 47-46 advantage.

The Huskies (1-2) knotted things back up at 47 with an Emily Collins free throw with 26 seconds left before each squad had an opportunity at victory in the closing seconds of play. A missed jumper by Collins was sandwiched around a missed Buchert free throw and a 12-foot attempt by Lauren Huber (11 points) that Collins (11 points) rebounded to force an extra four minutes of play.

Once extra play commenced it was all Wildcats as they outscored Hersey 11-4. After a Maddie Spalding hoop inside and a Lydia Crow (11 points) trey, Buchert connected on 4 of 6 at the foul line to settle matters as the Huskies would get no closer than 4 the rest of the way.

"We love to have her with possession of the ball down the stretch," Libertyville coach Greg Pedersen said of Buchert. "She's so talented at not only being able to shoot the ball, but more importantly being able to find open space where can create opportunities passing the ball to others. We're confident in her abilities."

Six-foot junior Janine Boyan paced the Hersey effort with 16 points and 10 rebounds while sophomore Mary Kate Fahey joined Collins with 11 points.

"I thought Boyan did a nice job but give credit to (Libertyville) for holding her to four points in the second half," Hersey coach Mary Fendley said. "It can be hard sometimes to adjust when you're getting knocked around in a physical game as it became."

Both squads return to their respective home courts for round 3 action at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday as Hersey hosts Mother McAuley, while the Wildcats face Machesney Park Harlem.

"We want to get comfortable playing on our home court," Pedersen said. "You want to be able to do well on your home floor especially with the talented teams that you face in this tournament."

  Hersey's Emily Collins fouls Libertyville's Margaret Buchert late in the fourth quarter as both teams head into overtime with Libertyville winning in the Bison Classic girls varsity basketball Thanksgiving Tournament at Buffalo Grove on Saturday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Hersey's Mary Kate Fahey battles Libertyville's Lydia Crow for ball control in the second half in the Bison Classic girls varsity basketball Thanksgiving Tournament at Buffalo Grove on Saturday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
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