Benet Academy started slowly in Monday night`s Class AA girls regional opener at Glenbard South. But when the Redwings started moving, they didn`t stop for quite a while.
Benet Academy scored 18 straight points in a five minute, 23-second span late in the first quarter to the midway point of the second period to take a 28-15 lead on the way to a 48-36 victory over Glenbard West.
Thursday night, Benet will meet Glenbard East for the regional title. Glenbard East advanced with a 46-43 victory over Glenbard South.
Glenbard East (13-11) jumped out to a 28-13 halftime lead, outscoring South 21-5 in the second quarter and withstood a Raiders` rally that tied the game at 39 with 4 minutes 12 seconds to play.
The Rams` Jennifer Stanek (game-high 14 points) hit two free throws with 3:41 left to give East a 41-39 lead, which it never relinquished. Then with 52 seconds, Stanek scored on an offense rebound to make it 44-41. The Rams`
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Tricia Hardtke (13 points) hit two free throws with 22 seconds left to end the scoring.
Sue Clayton and Chris Magrini scored 10 points for Glenbard South (9-16). Top-seeded Benet Academy turned the ball over 32 times and scored only three second-half field goals as it improved to 19-8. The Redwings forced the Hilltoppers into 33 turnovers. The turnovers accounted for a third quarter in which only seven points were scored, five by Benet Academy.
”We were a little bit tentative,” said Benet coach Peter Paul. ”We were expected to win. That makes it a little tougher. We did not shoot well
(33 percent from the field). But we made the key free throws down the stretch.”
Benet made 11 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter and finished the game 16 of 21. Carrie Martin, a 6-foot senior forward, was 4 for 4 in the fourth quarter and finished with a game-high 15 points as well as 14 rebounds and 4 steals.
Mary Zahour also made 4 of 4 from the line in fourth quarter and finished with 10 points and 5 steals. Sue Lesters added 10 points.
Glenbard West, which started three sophomores and a junior, finished 2-22. Katie Quathamer led the Hilltoppers with 13 points.
CLASS A
Kaneland regional-Gina Shumway scored 18 points and Kelly Wilkinson added 12 in Sandwich`s 54-51 victory over Aurora Central. Aurora`s Nico Ponquinette led all scorers with 19 points.
Kaneland (21-4) advanced with a 74-25 victory over Somonauk behind Stephanie Halsey`s 16 points and eight rebounds. Dana Lettow had 14 points, 5 assists and 5 steals for the winners. Laurie Cieslicki added 10 points and 12 rebounds for Somonauk.
Wheaton St. Francis regional-Bonnie Thorne scored 18 points and Beth Russell added 14 for fourth-seeded Wheaton Christian in a 48-23 win over Elgin Academy (16-10).