Hope junior guard Shuntae Roberison’s goal is to lead the state in assists, but Saturday she proved she can also score when she needs to.
Roberison scored 26 points, handed out nine assists and grabbed seven rebounds to lead No. 10 Hope (14-1) to a 64-49 victory over the host school to capture the round-robin Proviso East tournament with a 5-0 record.
Roberison has a nifty crossover dribble and controlled the ball with a dizzying array of moves, including behind-the-back dribbles and pinpoint, one-handed passes that set up layups for teammates and drew gasps from the crowd.
Unfortunately her teammates couldn’t always convert the layups or handle the passes, so in the final three quarters Roberison began to take the ball to the basket and was often fouled in the process. Roberison, who scored only four points in the first quarter as Hope sprinted to a 22-7 lead, converted 14-of-18 free throws as the Lady Eagles fought off a Proviso East comeback.
“A lot of people don’t realize that Shuntae is a scorer,” Hope coach Janelle Spearman said. “She can score anytime she wants, but she insists on getting her players involved. I told her she had to go to the hole more for us to win this ballgame.” Hope, playing its seventh game in six days, suited up only seven players with Sara McCoy injured and Tatiana Valentine at work.
The fatigue showed as Proviso East (8-10) scored 26 points in the second quarter and tied the game at 37-37 with a little over six minutes left in the third behind the NBA-range three-pointers of Latoya Thomas, who hit three to finish with 14 points.
But Kristin Moore, who tallied 15 points and 16 rebounds, hit a free throw to put Hope back in the lead. Roberison did the rest as Spearman had her team run a spread offense and let Roberison create.
In the other tournament games, Lane Tech (12-5) used 14 points from both Elizabeth Smith and Lori Tanaka to defeat Westinghouse 79-38. Luther North outlasted Gage Park 60-57 despite seven three-pointers and 32 points by Gage Park’s Tonika Couch.
Bob Skolnik.
Wheaton North tournament: Morgan Kasperek scored 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting as No. 7 Hinsdale Central (13-1) routed Schaumburg 57-26. Melanie Ploger added 14 points, including three three-pointers, for the winners. . . . No. 17 Willowbrook (13-0) bested Wheaton North 53-42 as Meri Neihaus scored 20 points on 11-of-14 shooting from the line. . . . Cookie Ulrich netted 21 points for Palatine (5-8) in a 55-52 victory over St. Charles East. Sarah Vitali had a game-high 24 points for the Saints (3-7) in the loss.
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Chicagoland Challenge: Johanna Solverson had 18 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and four steals as No. 11 Lake Zurich (10-0) routed Lake Park 68-26. Lake Zurich went on a 24-1 run in the first half to break the game open. Patti Hornung added 16 points and Jessie Miller had 14 for the victorious Bears. . . . Liz Bondi scored 17 points and Anne Forde added 14 as Maine South (12-4) defeated Vernon Hills 52-38. The Hawks led 36-30 in the fourth quarter before going on a 14-5 run to seal the victory. Lauren Horan’s nine points led Vernon Hills (3-12).
Trinity 75, Morton 46: The No. 12 Blazers (11-2) cruised behind Caprice Smith’s 31 points, 20 rebounds, six blocks and five steals. Cristina Crispino and Katie Jarger each chipped in with 12 points for Trinity, while Karina Padilla led Morton (1-11) with 11 points.
Machesney Park Harlem tournament: Tournament MVP Jennifer Brown scored 17 points as Rolling Meadows (11-4) cruised past Hoffman Estates 59-46 in the championship. Mandy Mennella put in 20 points for Hoffman (9-7).
Mother Guerin tournament: Ashley Obrest netted 33 points, including six three-pointers, to lead Elmwood Park (7-7) past Willows 77-50. Therese Nash had 26 points for Willows (8-6). . . . Patrice Johnson’s 32 points helped Notre Dame (7-6) rout St. Scholastica 57-27. . . . Good Counsel (9-4) downed Mother Guerin 55-43 behind Jan Dillon’s 32 points.
Oak Lawn tournament: Jenna Rubino put in 25 points as Lincoln-Way East (11-4) slipped past Oak Lawn 46-38. Sarah McKinney’s 15 points paced Oak Lawn (11-4).
Oswego tournament: Geneva (14-1) earned its second consecutive Oswego tournament title with a 56-46 win over DeKalb. Kari Bakken scored 17 points to lead the Vikings, while tournament MVP Brittany Burger’s 17 points paced DeKalb (7-7).
St. Ignatius tournament: Jakki Alexander scored 12 points as Thornridge downed Chicago Latin 54-43. . . . Shannon Hartney scored 15 points as Nazareth pounded Queen of Peace 70-33. . . . Margaret Gilmartin’s 16 points paced St. Ignatius in its 67-47 victory over Northside Prep.
Boys
Waubonsie Valley tournament: Derrick Clanton’s 16 points led No. 10 Waubonsie Valley (9-0) to a 61-51 victory over Glenbard South. Waubonsie went on an 11-0 run to finish the third quarter with a 49-41 lead. Marcus Perry scored 14 points to lead Glenbard South (3-7). . . . Jim O’Hara scored 14 points and Nicholas Michael added 13 points as West Chicago defeated Leyden 52-41. Vito Regalado scored 17 points for Leyden (3-6). . . . Greg Klos’ 28 points led Glenbard North (8-1) past Glenbard West 55-40. . . . Andy Madden’s 16 points lifted Marmion (5-3) over St. Charles North 53-51.
Antioch 53, Wauconda 37: Allen Patin scored 13 points and Josh Bonner added 12 points for the Sequoits (3-6).
DeKalb tournament: Brock Bjelk had 15 points and Jestin Anderson added 14 points for the host Barbs (8-3) in a 63-49 win over Sterling.
Downers Grove North 69, Conant 58: Antonio Poole scored 22 points and Matt Formato chipped in with 17 points as the Trojans (5-5) won the non-conference game. Jim Hlavacek led Conant with 14 points.
Jacobs tournament: John Smith put in 23 points as Johnsburg (9-0) tipped Prairie Ridge 70-62. Nick Hall scored 19 points for the Wolves (6-5) in the loss. . . . Bartlett (8-3) demolished Jacobs 76-46 as Pat Tuggle collected 28 points and 10 rebounds. Brian Nutt led Jacobs (8-4) with 14 points. . . . Scott Schmitz scored 13 of his 25 points in the first quarter as Barrington beat Huntley 76-52. . . . Tony Murdock’s 19 points led Round Lake past Fenton 61-55. . . . Lake Forest defeated Crystal Lake Central 67-47 behind Danny Hodgkinson’s 22 points. . . . Elk Grove rolled past Cary-Grove 78-45 as Scott Scholten tallied 15 points.
Luther South tournament: For its third straight title in this tournament, Washington (8-6) downed Mt. Carmel 55-39 behind Tiras Prothro’s 22 points. Casanova Brown and Jerod Haynes had 14 and 13 points, respectively, to lead the Caravan (11-3). . . . Brett Roberts’ 13 points led North Lawndale (10-3) past Fenger 60-51. Anthony Streeter scored 10 points to pace Fenger (6-8). . . . University High (4-9) used Josh Levine’s 18 points to top Kelly 55-50.