Bedell, Caudle power Vernon Hills past Highland Park

Highland Park presented a tall front line on Friday night. It went 6-foot-2, 6-1 and 5-11.

Vernon Hills (8-4) answered back with voracious rebounding and deadly shooting. On back-to-back 3-pointers from senior Piper Bedell, the Cougars lead had reached double figures at 18-8 early in the second quarter.

"On the offensive side, we were getting each other the ball,'' Bedell said. "We also had lot of open shots inside."

Bedell (18 points), hit four 3-pointers on the night. Inside power Kayla Caudle checked in with 14 points and 19 rebounds. Vernon Hills never trailed and posted a 58-38 win in Central Suburban League North girls basketball action.

"We really locked down defensively tonight,'' Caudle noted. "We were really boxing out. And that helped get Piper wide open on those threes,"

The third quarter belonged to the two seniors, Bedell and Caudle. This twosome combined to score their team's first 11 points of the quarter. Only a layup from Kylie Bunning at the end of the quarter gave the Cougars a commanding lead at 43-27.

"They sure shot well,'' said Highland Park coach Jolie Bechtel. "And they were tough defensively."

Vernon Hills coach Paul Brettner applauded Caudle for her double-double.

"She's doing great,'' he said. "She's a double-double machine."

In the final quarter, another Cougar stood out. Sophomore Daniella Jarrell landed a pair of 3-pointers and finished with 12 points.

Highland Park also has a player to watch, 6-2 Addie Budnik (17 points, 7 rebounds)

"She's getting some Division I looks,'' Bechtel added.

Bedell is confident about this year's Cougars team.

"We have really good chemistry,'' she said. "We just have to continue to play 32 minutes of basketball."