Fast start carries Cougars
By Bryan Bonato Special to The News-Sun January 17, 2013 9:32PM
Vernon Hills' Meri Bennett-Swanson (center) tries to get a rebound between North Chicago's Monique Greathouse (left) and Justice Moore. | Michael Schmidt~Sun-Times Media
PREP SCOREBOARD
GIRLS BASKETBALL FRIDAY’S GAMES
Lake Forest at Zion-Benton
Glenbrook South at Waukegan
Warren at Willowbrook vs. Hinsdale Central
Grayslake Central at Hampshire
Deerfield at Maine West
Maine East at Highland Park
Lake Forest Academy at Culver Military invite
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Antioch at Grant
North Chicago at Lakes
Lake Zurich at Zion-Benton
Warren at Lake Forest
Libertyville at Stevenson
Wauconda at Vernon Hills
Palatine at Mundelein
Lake Forest Academy at Culver Military invite
BOYS BASKETBALL FRIDAY’S GAMES North Suburban Prairie
Lakes at Wauconda
Vernon Hills at Round Lake
North Suburban Lake
Zion-Benton at Stevenson
East Suburban Catholic
Joliet Catholic at Carmel
Notre Dame at St. Patrick
Central Suburban North
Glenbrook North at Niles North
Maine East at Highland Park
Maine West at Deerfield
Central Suburban South
Niles West at New Trier
Waukegan at Glenbroook South
Article Extras
Updated: March 19, 2013 3:03AM
Vernon Hills led 10-0 after 132 seconds of play, 21-0 midway through the first period, and 30-5 after one quarter.
But the Cougars (19-2, losses to big schools Stevenson and Trinity) then got their motor stuck in neutral and wound up settling for a 58-44 victory over host North Chicago on Thursday in a North Suburban Conference Prairie Division girls basketball game.
The Cougars finished second to Montini in last year’s state tournament and are working toward a rematch with the three-time defending state champs in the Class 3A state semifinals next month.
Thursday’s fast start was an example of what the Cougars can do to overmatched foes.
Their play in the final three quarters — in which they were outscored 39-28 — was not.
Vernon Hills hit 11-of-14 shots from the field in the first quarter and made just 11 more shots the rest of the way.
“We came out with a lot of intensity which is definitely important against a team like North Chicago,” said junior star Lauren Webb (game-high 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals). “Then, we came out flat for the second and third quarters. We stopped taking our best shots. We can’t let that happen anymore.
“I think we got back into the swing of things to finish the game.”
North Chicago (7-14) never quit and outplayed the Cougars, who were not resting their starters after the first period.
“If (his players) had started with the same intensity that they finished with, they’d be smiling right now,” said Warhawks coach Lawrence Brown. “We’re growing. We’re much better than we started.
“Earlier in the year, we would have lost by 50, the way this game started. A little bit more growth and we could have gotten even closer. They have that belief they can come back against good teams now.”
Monique Greathouse had 11 points to lead the Hawks. Dara Tanner added nine points and seven boards.
Meri Bennett-Swanson had 14 points for Vernon Hills and Sydney Smith had 13 points and five boards.
“Our focus down the stretch is the Prairie Division. We really want to finish division play strong and put ourselves in position to play in the conference championship game,” said Cougars coach Paul Brettner, whose team hosts Wauconda on Saturday.
North Chicago plays Springfield at Young High School in Chicago on Saturday. Freshman Tineesha Coleman is expected to play varsity ball in that contest. Another freshman, Zyaire Strawder started for the Hawks on Thursday and had five points.
