Zee-Bees play complete game
By Jon Kerr Special to The News-Sun November 23, 2012 7:26PM
Zion-Benton's TT Maggett looks for an open teammate during their game against Deerfield High School in Deerfield November 23, 2012. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: December 25, 2012 6:07AM
Led by a stifling trapping defense and the early hot hand of junior Sam Rodriquez, Zion-Benton pounded host Deerfield 57-26 Friday on the fourth day of the Deerfield Thanksgiving girls basketball tournament.
In the game’s opening minute, Deerfield senior guard Sarah Ginn stole the ball and took it coast-to-coast for layup, making it 2-0. It was the Warriors’ lone lead of the game.
Zion-Benton (2-1) would close out the quarter on a 12-1 run, burning off any calories consumed from Thanksgiving dinner. Rodriquez, one of two returning starters from last year’s sectional-final squad, scored seven of those points.
“We’ve been a little sluggish working on rebounding and transitioning but today we really cleaned it up,” senior forward Syerra Cunningham said.
The Zee-Bees forced 15 first-half turnovers, many of which led to easy transitions baskets. Deerfield played more than nine minutes of the first half without scoring a point. It was 34-6 Zee-Bees at the break as the Warriors had no answer for the inside rebounding of Cunningham (11 rebounds) and transition guard play of freshman T.T. Maggett (team-leading 15 points).
Deerfield (1-3) was led by senior Jessica Bess and Greer, each of whom scored five points.
Zion closes out the tournament Saturday against Proviso East while Deerfield faces Evanston.
