Defending state girls basketball champion Hinsdale Central opened the 2002-03 season with a rare loss.
Taryn Lenich hit a pair of free throws with 23.5 seconds remaining to put Plainfield up for good as the Wildcats knocked off defending state champion and No. 20 Hinsdale Central 43-42 Friday night at the Hinsdale South Tournament.
Hinsdale Central made only 6-of-22 free throws, including a 1-for-8 effort in the fourth quarter, and saw its 28-game win streak end. It was also only the Red Devils’ second loss in the Hinsdale South Tournament in Steve Gross’ nine years as coach.
Plainfield (2-0) converted 16 of its 24 attempts, including 3-of-5 in the final quarter.
“It wasn’t like they were good rips,” Gross said. “They weren’t even close. We have a lot of things to work on.”
Kathleen Phanas led Plainfield with 12 points, while sophomore Kristen Wilk led Hinsdale Central (0-1) with 19.
“Anytime you beat a team like that, your girls are doing everything you expect them to do, and then some,” Plainfield coach Brian Bazan said. “Fortunately, we got the breaks at the end and made our free throws when we needed them.”
Also at Hinsdale South, the host Hornets (2-0) had 13 points from Aubrey Rauktys in a 69-13 rout of Plainfield South (0-2). . . . At Neuqua Valley, Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton had 19 points and four steals to lead No. 3 Neuqua Valley to a season-opening 71-45 win over Larkin (0-1).
Benet/East Aurora/Naperville Central Tournament: Candace Parker scored 19 points and pulled down 15 rebounds but left in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury as No. 5 Naperville Central opened the season with a 60-27 win over Batavia. Rachel Crissy had 15 points and eight rebounds for the host Redhawks, and Courtney Peters added 11 points. . . . Amy Hunckler’s 16 points and eight rebounds led Benet (1-0) to a 49-18 victory over Glenbard West.
At East Aurora, Ashley Robinson and Clarise Jones both scored 12 points for No. 6 Regina (1-1) in a 50-36 win over Elgin (0-1). . . . Erika Nelson scored 15 points and Erin Cattell added 14 as No. 11 Sandburg opened with a 57-29 win over East Aurora.
Schaumburg Tournament: Pam Findlay and Danielle Nabolotny both registered double-doubles to lead No. 12 Glenbrook South to a 61-37 win over Wheaton North. Findlay scored 23 points with 13 rebounds for the Titans (3-0), and Nabolotny added 20 points and 10 boards. . . . Schaumburg (2-1) downed Wheaton Warrenville South (1-2) 51-37 as Kelly Wernert scored 19 points. . . . Rockford Boylan (2-1) opened the third quarter with a 15-2 run in a 57-36 win over St. Charles East (1-2).
Carmel 73, Wheeling 37: Caitlin Krombach hit four three-pointers on her way to a game-high 20 points for the No. 15 Corsairs (3-0). Jenny Eckhart added 15 points for Carmel.
Deerfield Tournament: Tekia Brefford’s free throw with 1:49 left in the fourth quarter broke a 44-44 tie and led No. 17 Hillcrest to a season-opening 47-44 victory over Grayslake. The Rams (0-1) opened the third quarter with a 13-0 run and led 31-25 with 2:54 to play in the period before Hillcrest rallied.
Mother McAuley 61, De La Salle 28: Jackie Maller scored 11 points for the Mighty Macs (1-1).
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Romeoville Tournament: JoAnna Byrdak scored 23 points and dished out five assists to lead Argo to a 65-48 win over Lockport. Melissa Burchett had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Argonauts (1-2). . . . Stagg (3-0) rolled to a 57-33 win over Oswego behind 19 points and 14 rebounds from Heather King. . . . Heather Graefnitz scored 17 points as Romeoville (1-2) topped Lemont (1-2) 40-37.