It was how Barrington forward Nicky Eason used to play on the playground, she said. You know, the basics, like blocking a shot, grabbing the ball, dribbling it up court and pulling up for a jump shot.
The University of Denver-bound senior did that twice in the second half in which she turned her game and, consequently, the outcome around. Eason scored 12 of her 16 points in the final two quarters to help the Fillies pull away from Schaumburg in a 55-49 Mid-Suburban West Conference victory Thursday night at Barrington.
“I was just playing ball,” said Eason, who also tallied nine rebounds and three blocks. “That’s what I used to do with the guys at the elementary school court. I wasn’t having fun in the first half. I told myself to just go out there and have fun–just play ball like I normally do.”
Eason’s different approach showed. She made six of her 10 shots in the second half, compared with her 2-of-7 clip in the first half. But it wasn’t just Eason who turned it up in the second half. The Fillies (18-6, 7-1), who led 23-20 at halftime, made their first five shots of the third quarter. Lindsay Richards, who led all scorers with 20 points, converted three of her four three-pointers in the second half.
“Eason had a stretch in the third quarter when she hit everything, and that kind of broke our back,” said Schaumburg coach Joe Breault, whose team still has to play New Trier, Stevenson and Mother McAuley this week.
Schaumburg (15-10, 3-5), which was without the services of center Samantha Haynes, who broke her foot last Friday, hung tough until midway through the fourth quarter. That’s when Richards hit a three-pointer and Eason made two straight baskets to increase the lead to 52-41.
Schaumburg’s Liz Hartig scored seven of her 15 points in the third quarter to combat Barrington’s hot shooting. Andi Brooke also added 15 points and 11 rebounds.
“I think we got a little hungrier in the second half,” said Barrington coach Babbi Barreiro. “I think we played a little soft in the first half. . . . [Eason] came alive in the third quarter. It’s a huge difference.”
Sean Duncan.
Marshall 66, Young 41: Cappie Pondexter tallied 21 points and seven rebounds and Jacquay Holmes added 15 points and 12 rebounds as the No. 3 Lady Commandos (18-4, 8-0) romped past Young in the Public Super. Candis Jackson led Young (5-17, 3-5) with 15 points and nine rebounds.
Young coach Arthur Penny, who missed the game because of illness, and Marshall coach Dorothy Gaters both received “Lifetime Achievement in Girls Basketball” awards from the Public League for recently earning their 400th and 700th wins, respectively.
Hillcrest 83, Bremen 32: Janelle Hughes scored 16 points and Nadia Bibbs added 14 points to lead sixth-ranked Hillcrest (19-1, 9-0) to the SICA Central rout. Four other players scored in double figures for Hillcrest, while Tina Archer’s nine points led Bremen.
Fremd 47, Palatine 24: Maggie Fontana scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the No. 7 Vikings (20-3, 7-1) to the Mid-Suburban West win. Palatine (9-14, 2-6) had closed the game the gap to 12 late in the third quarter before Fontana scored eight points in a 13-0 run.
Rashidat Olayiwola scored seven points to lead Palatine (9-14, 2-6).
Hope 64, Hyde Park 28: Brandy Durham scored 15 points and Kristin Moore added 15 points and 13 rebounds as No. 9 Hope (19-4, 7-1) rolled in the Public Super.
West Chicago 47, Glenbard North 41: Beth Brinn scored 18 points to lead No. 11 West Chicago to the DuPage Valley win. Meghan Young added 15 points for the Wildcats (22-2, 9-1) and Sarah Bass chipped in with 11 points. Jaclyn Flason scored 14 points to lead Glenbard North (19-3, 7-3), which trailed throughout the game.
Rich South 62, Crete-Monee 33: Rachel Reed scored 10 points as the No. 14 Stars (19-3, 7-0) rolled in the SICA South.
Bolingbrook 56, Richards 48: Beth Little and Rowsha LaBranche each scored 12 points as the Raiders (15-7, 5-2) upended No. 17 Richards. Christy Gorecki scored 14 to lead Richards (19-3, 6-1). Bolingbrook has won 10 of its last 11 games.
Dunbar 70, Prosser 49: In the Public Super, Nakeisha Smith scored 29 points and Desire Wheeler added 20 for the Mighty Women, which improves to 14-9 overall.
Argo 50, Romeoville 41: LaTanya Jackson scored 15 points and Jessica Harris added 14 for Argo (13-7, 4-3) in the SICA North victory. Cassie Hill scored 13 points to lead Romeoville (12-9, 3-4).
Austin 53, Flower 33: Violet Howard tallied 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Tigers (12-3, 9-1) in the Public West.
Bowen 46, Corliss 40: Taheisha King had 18 points to lead the Boilermakers (17-6, 7-2) in the Public South.
Chicago Latin 52, Woodlands 32: Carrie Holst led Latin (15-8, 10-0) with 13 points, while Chrissy Dizon added 11 and Miranda Knox had 10 in the Independent School League.
Clemente 48, Farragut 37: Robin Cotton’s 21 points led the Wildcats (14-6, 9-1) in the Public West.
Curie 74, Crane 53: In the Public West, the Condors (13-3, 10-0) cruised behinds Shimera Jones’ 25 points, eight assists and seven steals.
Harlan 46, Chicago Vocational 30: The Falcons (15-7, 7-2) cruised in the Public South as Juanita Lee had 19 points and 10 steals.
Lane Tech 62, Fenger 51: Melissa Wegner scored 17 points and Felisia Sanders chipped in with 15 points to lead Lane (14-10, 3-4) in the Public Superconference.
Lisle 50, Reed-Custer 34: Michelle Kittrell and Candice McNally each had 16 points to lead Lisle (18-4, 10-1) in the Interstate Eight.
Madonna 54, Notre Dame 51: Mayra Avila paced Madonna (9-14) with 17 points in the school’s last regular-season home game. Britney Green added 11 points for Madonna, which will close after this school year because of dwindling enrollment. Jennifer Davis scored 15 points to lead Notre Dame.
Manley 70, Westinghouse 66: Monique Lloyd led Manley (10-12, 4-3) in the Public Super with 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Sophia Harris added 22 points. Westinghouse (8-12, 2-6) received 32 points and 10 rebounds from Erica Simon.
Morgan Park Academy 45, North Lawndale 38: Shaneah Taylor scored 18 points for Morgan Park Academy (17-5) and surpassed the 1,000 point mark in the non-conference win.
Nazareth 50, Wheaton Academy 29: Rasa Dovilas scored 19 points to lead Nazareth to the Private School rout. Becky Domke scored eight for Wheaton Academy (17-5, 9-3).
Naperville Central 69, Wheaton North 42: Candace Parker scored 24 points for Naperville Central (16-7, 7-3) in the DuPage Valley, while Courtney Peters and Shannon Mohan added 10 points apiece.
Neuqua Valley 67, St. Charles East 34: Rnesha Baldwin scored 15 points to lead Neuqua Valley to the Upstate Eight win and into sole possession of first place in the conference. Cassie Stark added 13 points and Lindsay Wisdom 12 points for the Wildcats (20-5, 10-1), who avenged an earlier loss to the Saints. Sarah Vitali led St. Charles East (15-7, 9-2) with 11 points.
Oak Lawn 48, Reavis 46: Karissa Murray sank a three-pointer with 15 seconds left to lift Oak Lawn (9-13, 2-5) to the SICA North victory. Dana Sullivan was high scorer with 14 for Oak Lawn, while Katie King’s 22 points paced Reavis (4-15, 1-5).
Regina 53, Evanston 28: Jill Krause tallied 18 points and Christina Quaye added 11 points and 11 rebounds for Regina (14-9) in non-conference action.
Sandburg 54, Andrew 33: In the SICA West, Lindsey Krieger had 17 points and five three-pointers for the Eagles, which improves to 18-6 overall.
Simeon 42, Southside Prep 32: Ashley Hall had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Wolverines (19-5, 9-0) in the Public South.
Yorkville 58, Westmont 28: Alesia Perry scored 11 points, while Abby Rees and Alissa Johnson added 10 points apiece for Yorkville (17-4, 11-2) in the Suburban Prairie White.
Boys
Hubbard 81, Robeson 78: Rashaun Johnson scored 22 points to lead four Greyhounds (10-12, 3-3) in double figures in the Red Central win. Kevin Hill scored 15 points for Robeson (5-14, 3-3) in a matchup that featured Hubbard coach Calvin Holiday facing his mentor for the first time.
“He taught me coaching,” said Holiday of Charles Redmon, whom he assisted from 1991-96. “I’m glad I got the win but sad he lost.”
King 60, Harper 51: Michael Shelby had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Jaguars (5-13, 2-4) in the Public Red Central.
Lane Tech 96, Sullivan 82: Curtis Collins had 26 points and 13 rebounds and Nick Logalbo added 21 points for the Indians (10-10, 2-4) in the Public Red North.
Mather 80 Lincoln Park 72: Daniel Mendoza scored 23 points and Michael Shamon added 17 points for the Rangers (12-7, 4-2).
Morgan Park Academy 54, Francis Parker 42: Eric Kelly scored 20 points and hauled down 14 rebounds for the Warriors (13-8, 6-1) in the Independent School League.
Steinmetz 69, Prosser 63: Marcquintice Davis scored 22 points and Onani Wilson added 19 for the Silver Streaks (11-6, 4-2) in the Public Red North. Coby Bridgmon had a game-high 28 points for Prosser.
Taft 57, Schurz 53: Fred Bailey scored 15 points and hit eight free throws in the fourth quarter to seal the Blue North win for Taft (17-3, 6-0).
Ronnie Jordan led Schurz (8-16, 2-4) with 16 points..
Tilden 59, Kennedy 41: Keith Gayden’s 14 points led Tilden (11-7, 5-1) in the Public Blue Central.
