With the score tied, freshman Kaitlin McInerney scored with 53 seconds left in overtime to put No. 13 Benet ahead for good Saturday in its 53-49 win over Bolingbrook.
The Raiders had a chance to tie, but McInerney forced a jump ball to give Benet possession. Bolingbrook then fouled Courtney Koller, who hit two free throws with two seconds left to seal the win.
“It felt like a chess match out there occasionally,” Benet coach Peter Paul said. “Down the stretch we hit some key shots and made some key free throws. I can’t say enough about Courtney being at the line to seal it.”
McInerney finished with 11 points and Chandra Smith led the Redwings (7-1) with 16 points. It was Smith’s basket with three seconds left in regulation that tied the score 45-45 and forced overtime.
Chloe Kerr had 16 points and Rowsha LaBranche added 14 for Bolingbrook (4-1).
Regina 72, Mother McAuley 45
In previous years, Regina would have had its hands full playing on the road against Mother McAuley. But with only one senior and a freshman in the starting lineup for the Mighty Macs, the No. 16 Panthers had little trouble registering a victory in its GCAC Red opener.
McAuley had no answer down low for Christina Quaye, who scored 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds as Regina (4-3, 1-0) led by as many as 29 in the second half.
“This is what Christina’s capable of doing,” Regina coach Jim Russo said. “She had been slowed by a sprained ankle and this was the first game she was 100 percent.”
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Ashley Robinson added 14 points for Regina while Jackie Waller and Lauren Donahue each had nine points for the Mighty Macs (2-4, 0-1).
Mike Duffin.
Neuqua Valley 57, Elgin 48: Jessica Jones and Brittanie Taylor-James scored 15 and 13 points, respectively, for the No. 2 Wildcats (7-0, 1-0) in the Upstate Eight. Kelly Sikora had a game-high 19 points for Elgin (3-4, 0-1).
Naperville Central 68, Waubonsie Valley 40: Candace Parker’s 22 points and nine rebounds paced the No. 4 Redhawks (7-0). Parker reached 1,500 points for her career with a free throw, the last of her 14 first-half points. Ellen Wood led Waubonsie (3-4) with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Maine West tournament: Hersey outscored No. 5 Stevenson 20-6 in the first quarter and never looked back in its 50-33 win over the Patriots. Emilie Hirt netted 15 points, including four three-pointers, and Beth Lucas recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Huskies (3-2). Erin Murtha had 11 points for Stevenson (3-2). . . . Lauren Lacey led No. 7 Marian Catholic (7-1) with 20 points in its 60-38 win over Evanston.
Trinity 59, Quincy 41: To start the second half, Caprice Smith scored seven of her 13 points during an 11-0 run to give the sixth-ranked Blazers (8-1) a 43-18 lead. Ashley Owens led Trinity with 16 points and 16 rebounds.
York 67, Proviso West 38: Krystal Hugelier had 21 points as No. 9 York (8-0, 2-0) prevailed in the West Suburban Silver.
Loyola 58, Resurrection 46: Maggie Duggan scored 11 of her 16 points in the fourth quarter as the No. 17 Ramblers pulled away in the GCAC Red. Jenna Pascente scored 20 points for Loyola (7-3, 1-1), which broke open a close game with a 12-0 fourth-quarter run. Kristi Cirone scored 17 of her team-high 19 points in the second half for Resurrection (6-2, 0-1).
Dundee-Crown 42, Crystal Lake Central 21: Beckee Hank had nine points for the No. 18 Chargers (6-0, 2-0) in the Fox Valley.
Hope 50, Peoria Woodruff 41: Akila Harris netted 16 points to lead the No. 19 Lady Eagles (6-1). Returning Tribune first-team All-Stater Britney Jordan scored 16 points for Peoria Woodruff (7-2).
Bartlett 54, Lake Park 50: Lindsay Schrader collected 26 points and a school-record 20 rebounds for Bartlett (6-0, 2-0) in the Upstate Eight.
Lake Forest 60, Antioch 50: Stephanie Zare scored 19 points and Lillie Romeiser added 15 for the Scouts (6-1, 1-0) in the North Suburban Lake.
Timothy Christian 46, Wheaton Academy 27: Timothy Christian was held scoreless for the first five minutes of the game but rebounded to win in the Private South. Larae Woudstra led the Trojans (5-1, 1-0) with 17 points.
Girls gymnastics
Fremd captured the Big Purple Invite at Downers Grove North for the 10th straight year, but only by the slimmest of margins.
The Big Purple has a different format from other meets, having teams count three scores instead of four. The Vikings won with a 107.825, edging Naperville Central at 107.8. Hersey was third with a 104.2
Fremd trailed by three points after two events, when the Vikings two best gymnasts, Katie Burke and MeMe Sadler, each surprisingly fell twice off the balance beam. The Vikings rebounded with solid scores on floor exercise and vault.
“I’m really impressed with the team’s resiliency,” Vikings coach Larry Petrillo said. “It gives me confidence for this team’s prospects in the state series.”
Ken O’Brien.
Boys swimming
Saturday’s season-opening Patriot Relays offered a chance for nearly everyone to get into the pool.
At least that’s the way host Stevenson viewed this 32nd annual event.
“This allows us to see a lot of kids race,” Patriots coach Doug Lillydahl said. “It’s not just a few stars getting a chance to swim … it’s a real developmental meet for everyone.”
The Patriots won 10 events in the Gold Division and scored 276 points. Fenwick was second with 236 points and three firsts.
Sandburg collected eight championships and 316 points to top the Green Division while Latin was second with four firsts and 204 points. Stevenson also fielded a Green team that finished fifth. All told, the 16-team meet featured 40 different events which were scored for the final cumulative team standings in two divisions.
Jack McCarthy.
Wrestling
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Hinsdale South Invitational: The Hornets won individual championships in four classes to win their own invitational. Mike DeGuzman (125 pounds), Duke Begy (140), Rusty Koenig (171) and Joe Thomas (275) all won title matches for Hisndale South, which finished with 257.5 points. Montini had three winners to finish second at 251.
Boys hockey
Mike Saliba had a hat trick while Robbie Tesar and Alex Merkle added two goals apiece in leading Loyola Gold (15-5-5) to an 8-5 come-from-behind win over New Trier Green (22-6). It was the Ramblers’ first win over the Trevians since 1995 in the annual rivalry game played in Winnetka.
“We’ve had a lot of doubters, so this was a great win, but still just one win,” Loyola coach D.J. LaVarre said.
The Trevians grabbed a 3-1 lead after one period, but Loyola answered with four straight. Tesar scored what proved to be the game-winner at 9:57 in the third on one of Matt Tobin’s two assists. Pat Tobin had the Ramblers’ other goal.