Cougars’ size is too much for Corsairs to overcome
By Bryan Bonato Special to The News-Sun February 21, 2012 10:06PM
2/21/12 Arlington Heights Carmel's Kathleen Felicelli (12) gets blocked by Vernon Hills' Meri Bennett-Swanson during their basketball game on Wednesday night, Feb. 21st. | Dan Luedert~Sun-Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: March 23, 2012 8:11AM
Vernon Hills’ size proved too much for Carmel on Tuesday as the Cougars won 46-33 in the semifinals of the Class 3A St. Viator Sectional.
Thursday’s game against Grayslake Central will be the Cougars’ first appearance in a sectional championship game in school history.
Meri Bennett-Swanson, a 6-2 junior, had 12 points to lead the winners. Lauren Webb (6-0 sophomore) added seven points, and 5-10 sophomore Sydney Smith had five points, as the trio controlled the paint area.
“We’re excited and we should be,” winning coach Paul Brettner said of the postgame celebration. “It was a real good defensive effort. I was worried about how we would respond to their defensive pressure but, by and large, I thought we did what we needed to do.”
For the game, Vernon Hills was 16-of-49 shooting, while Carmel was held to 15-of-58, including 1-of-13 from behind the arc as they attempted to bomb away over the tall timber in the paint.
Vernon Hills led 18-13 at halftime and was up 28-22 with 1:54 to play in the third quarter. But a three-point play by Alina Lehocky, a bomb by Abby Springer from NBA three-point range and a bank shot by Bre Bahlman gave Vernon Hills a 36-22 lead after three.
Carmel didn’t get closer than nine the rest of the way.
Comments Click here to view or make a comment