Dundee-Crown cools hot-shooting McHenry
With an ACL injury, Cassidy Randl had to watch her junior season from the sidelines.
Wearing a brace, Randl is trying to enjoy her senior season on the court.
Scoring all 10 of her points in the first half including a pair of 3-pointers, Dundee-Crown was able to manage a hard-fought 56-47 win over upset-minded McHenry in Fox Valley Conference action in McHenry Wednesday night.
"It is still sore at times but I realize it is the new normal after the injury," said Randl. "It is great to be on the court again and help the team win. This a great win tonight against a very good team."
D-C coach Sarah Miller realizes how important Randl is to the team.
"I am so happy for Cassidy," said Miller. "She was so ready to play and hit some big shots for us."
Playing without junior standout Gianine Boado (knee), fellow junior Alyssa Crenshaw stepped up with 14 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocked shots for the Chargers (9-0, 5-0). Payton Schmidt, who connected on 6-of-10 from the free-throw line, added 10 points with 4 assists and 3 steals.
"Without Gianine other players stepped up," said Miller. "We did the little things necessary to win."
The Warriors (10-2, 3-2) gave the Chargers a gut punch to start the game. Connecting on their first four 3-pointers of the game, McHenry grabbed an early 12-3 advantage. Ashley Wachter and Gracie Gasmann each collected a pair of 3s.
A layup by Katelyn Skibinski late in the quarter pulled the Chargers within 17-12 at the end of 8 minutes.
"McHenry punched us early but I like the way we kept our poise," said Miller. "We are not used to giving up 17 points in a quarter. We picked up the defensive intensity in the second quarter."
The Chargers seized control of the game at the end of the first half and the beginning of the third quarter.
With McHenry leading 27-23, the Chargers scored the final 8 points of the quarter and led 31-27 at intermission.
D-C scored the first 5 points of the third quarter to conclude a 13-0 run and lead 36-27.
"That 13-0 run at the end of the second quarter and to begin the third quarter (hurt)," said McHenry coach Rob Niemic. "We had the early 3s but maybe that was fools gold. I like the energy we came out with and we punched them in the mouth. But, our inexperience showed at times. You have to play four great quarters to beat Dundee-Crown and we didn't do that. They outscrapped us and got easy baskets. They were tougher than us and that is on me."
McHenry, which made 9-of-20 from 3-point range for 45 percent, was led by Ava Interante with 15 points and Katie Beyer with 12.