Hersey topples Rolling Meadows, stays unbeaten
Never satisfied.
Never ever.
That was Hersey sophomore guard Katy Eidle's wonderful mindset after hitting a 3-pointer midway through the third quarter of a Mid-Suburban League East girls basketball game at Rolling Meadows Friday night.
She could have admired the shot.
Could have backpedaled at a normal gait while transitioning to defense.
The 5-foot-11 Eidle did neither.
Instead, she sprinted toward the recipient of the ensuing inbound pass, caused a loose ball and then tapped it off a Mustang's frame. The ball went out of bounds near the Huskies' bench.
"Katy's defense tonight ... it was as tough as I'd ever seen it," Hersey coach Mary Fendley marveled after Eidle netted a game-high 18 points in Hersey's 58-41 triumph. "She initiated havoc better than ever and worked hard, as usual. She seemed to be everywhere."
In other words, you'll never catch Eidle standing idly on a basketball court.
Never ever.
Even when Hersey had a comfy 49-35 lead at the 2:41 mark of the fourth quarter. Moments after her first bucket of the frame, Eidle whipped a one-handed fastball to a sprinting Mary McGrath, who then executed a smooth layup.
Three other Huskies, including McGrath (11 points), finished in double figures as Hersey improved to 5-0, 5-0 in the MSL East. Senior Mary Kate Fahey poured in 16 points, and classmate Avery Larson hit for 10 to go with her 7 rebounds; Eidle also came down with 7 boards.
"Our kids played great, played much tougher than they did Tuesday (in a loss to Prospect)," said Mustangs coach Ryan Kirkorsky, whose Mustangs (4-2, 3-2) struck for 7 of the game's first 9 points and trailed only 30-22 at the half.
"And they followed the game plan. Hersey's a team that's in sync, fast and strong, with a lot of good shooters. You can't make any physical or mental mistakes, because Hersey, more often than not, capitalizes on those."
Rolling Meadows junior guard Emily Galvan (team-high 15 points) swished all three of her 3-pointers in the first half and capped the scoring in the first 16 minutes with a righty layup in the waning seconds; she had made a 3 and a lefty layup in an impressive 21-second span earlier in the quarter.
Junior guard Madi Niedbala contributed 11 points for the hosts, and 6-3 freshman forward/center Roison Grandberry finished with 6 points, 5 rebounds and 4 blocks.
"All the potential in the world," Kirkorsky said of his selfless, dauntless rookie. "She has a good feel for the game."
Hersey, in general? Way better than good.
"We're just loving the opportunity to play now," Fendley said. "Our players are happy to be here and happy to share the ball with their teammates. All they want to do is be as successful as possible, together."