Cuny Helps Redhawk Girls Shoot Down Neuqua

With a rival coming to her court and sectional seedings very likely to be affected, Naperville Central’s Jamie Cuny wanted a fast start Tuesday night against Neuqua Valley.

The Redhawks sophomore forward got just that, connecting a four 3-pointers in the first quarter alone on her way to 14 points in a thrilling 45-40 victory over the Wildcats (13-3).

But a pair of clutch free throws late in the game with her team clinging to a 43-40 lead proved to be just as important after Neuqua Valley’s pressing, trapping defense and offensive rebounds gave the Wildcats chance after chance down the stretch.

“Coach Nussbaum said this was a big game with the seedings coming up, plus they're are rivals, so it feels so good,” said Cuny, who made four of five shots from beyond the arc as the Redhawks took an 18-15 lead after one quarter.

Even with Cuny’s red hot start and the usual solid games from Emma Ondik (15 points, 3 assists) and Emma Donahue (5 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocked shots), Naperville Central (11-7) couldn’t shake a relentless Wildcats team that forced 26 turnovers.

After a low-scoring second quarter the Redhawks led 24-19 at the half before Neuqua picked up its pressure in the second half and used an 11-2 run to turn a 28-21 deficit into a 32-30 lead following a pair of free throws by Najee Smith, who had one of her team’s many takeaways on the play.

But Naperville Central reclaimed the lead at 35-34 after three quarters and re-took the momentum at the start of the fourth quarter when Ondik hit a pair of free throws and added a 3-pointer. The Wildcats, meanwhile, missed four straight free throws at the opening of the fourth quarter, and that came back to haunt them.

“We didn’t come out strong in the second half and Neuqua did. They were wound up,” Cuny said. “But, then, we kept our composure and we stayed calm in our heads.”

Wildcats coach Mike Williams had no quarrels with his team’s effort, and who could when your team pressures an opponent into that many turnovers and also scraps its way to 22 offensive rebounds that led to a number of second and third chances. In the end, however, missed free throws and some bad decisions did in Neuqua, which just lost a close game to fellow rival Benet Academy.

“Our inexperience is exposed,” Williams said. “If we can sort things out and get some more experience by the end of the year we’re gonna be fine.”

Malia Smith led a balanced Wildcats offense with nine points, while Megan Doody hit a pair of threes to score eight, and Alexa Wilde had seven points, 11 rebounds and four steals for Neuqua. Redhawks newcomer KJ Lark had a clutch basket and six rebounds off the bench and Jill D’Amico had a big layup that gave the Redhawks a 43-38 lead with 1:12 remaining.