Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Wildkits allow just 20 points as Redhawks lose opening game at Charger Classic.
Like a lot of people, Naperville Central girls basketball coach Andy Nussbaum opened his Christmas presents on Sunday. On Monday his team gave him the proverbial lump of coal. The Redhawks struggled offensively as never before, scoring only 10 points through three quarters and losing 41-20 to Evanston in the opening round of the 29th annual Dundee-Crown Charger Classic in Carpentersville. While beating Evanston (8-6) was not a given, Nussbaum expected a much better effort from the Redhawks (6-6), who mustered only three baskets in the first half and seven for the game. “We missed a lot of shots we normally make, but we’re not going to make excuses,” said Nussbaum, who won his 500th career game on Nov. 18. “A team of our caliber, our …
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Redwings extend winning streak to eight while snapping Huskies' streak at six.
Nicole Valentine is not the biggest basketball player around, but she stood tall at both ends of the court for Benet on Friday night. Valentine, a 5-8 senior guard, was a force inside and outside, scoring 16 points and pulling down nine rebounds to help the host Redwings knock off Naperville North 76-60 in the championship game of the Benet/Naperville North Holiday Tournament in Lisle. The victory was the eighth straight for Benet (12-4), which snapped Naperville North’s six-game winning streak. “We knew that defense and rebounds would win the game,” Valentine said. “That’s usually our motto. Even though we are small, we work on boxing out every single practice and we just have continually gotten better and better at it.” Valentine is one …
Sunday, March 13, 2011
As thoughts turn to spring sports, take a look back at the season that was in boys and girls basketball.
When Benet Academy’s perfect season came to a close Tuesday at the hands of East Aurora, it also signaled the end of the basketball season for all of the area schools. The final loss to the Tomcats notwithstanding, the journey the Redwings took this season was the hands-down highlight of the basketball season in the area. After surprisingly reaching the supersectionals against Simeon last year, all eyes were on Benet this year. Add in the college signings of center Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin) and point guard Dave Sobolewski (Northwestern) prior to the season, and the spotlight was hot. But for 29 straight games, that spotlight never got to the Redwings. The Hinsdale South Thanksgiving tournament, Plainfield North tournament in December and …
41.785819
-88.154506
Naperville North High School
899 N Mill St, Naperville, IL
/articles/basketball-season-provided-many-memories
241118
/locations/3669695
41.768655
-88.155555
Naperville Central High School
440 Aurora Ave, Naperville, IL
/articles/basketball-season-provided-many-memories
239787
/locations/3669696
41.7099
-88.194399
Neuqua Valley High School
2360 95th St, Naperville, IL
/articles/basketball-season-provided-many-memories
239530
/locations/3669697
41.738574
-88.251412
Waubonsie Valley High School
2590 Ogden Ave, Aurora, IL
/articles/basketball-season-provided-many-memories
1374329
/locations/3669698
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Bolingbrook 64, Benet Academy 44. Bolingbrook's Ariel Massengale took it upon herself to carry her teammates to a sectional championship, pouring in a game-high 22 points in a 20-point win against Benet.
The Hot Read: Bolingbrook took Benet Academy's best shot in the first half of Thursday's Romeoville Sectional final, but the Lady Raiders delivered the opening salvo of the third quarter and didn't stop until they earned a 20-point victory and sectional championship. Bolingbrook captured its seventh consecutive sectional title with a 64-44 win. The Lady Raiders were led by McDonald's All-American Ariel Massengale, who bounced back from a sluggish semi-final performance to put up 22 points and four rebounds—the senior point guard put her teammates on her back and carried the bulk of the team's scoring. Junior Morgan Tuck scored 14 of her 15 points in the second half in support of Massengale's show-stopping performance. Benet opened the game…
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Benet embraces its role as underdog in Thursday's sectional title game.
ROMEOVILLE – After the handshakes and hugs were completed following Tuesday night’s 56-52 win over Waubonsie Valley in the Class 4A Romeoville Sectional semifinals, Benet Academy had to start looking ahead to its reward for the win. There is no challenge bigger in Illinois high school girls basketball than Bolingbrook these days, and that’s what awaits the Redwings on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. “All this gives us is an opportunity to play the top team in the state,” Benet coach Peter Paul said. “I’m just happy with the win today. It gives us an opportunity.” The Raiders' accomplishments are so great that they defy probability. The Raiders have won 60 straight games in Illinois, including the past two state titles. Point guard Ariel Massengale …
Monday, February 21, 2011
Bolingbrook 67, Naperville Central 43. The Lady Raiders rode junior Morgan Tuck's strong effort on the block, which featured 26 points and eight rebounds, to a 24-point win and a spot in the Romeoville Sectional finals.
The Hot Read: Behind the efforts of junior forward Morgan Tuck, the Bolingbrook Lady Raiders took one more step toward earning a third-straight state title. Tuck's 26 points and eight rebounds powered Bolingbrook to a 67-43 win in the first semi-final of the Romeoville Sectional. The Lady Raiders gutted out a win in a game that was physical from the opening tip. Tuck's interior dominance helped set up Bolingbrook's perimiter attack as junior guard Allie Hill knocked down four 3-point field goals en route to a 14-point night. Patch’s MVP: Junior Morgan Tuck contributed 26 points and eight rebounds to spur the Lady Raiders past a physical foe in an intense Redhawks defense. Key stats: Bolingbrook scored 18 points off five 3-point field goals…
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Redhawks play nationally ranked Bolingbrook in sectional semifinal Monday.
AURORA – Knowing that the reward for winning Friday’s Class 4A East Aurora Regional championship was a date with nationally ranked Bolingbrook on Monday, Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum couldn’t help but make a joke. “I told (Neuqua coach Mike Williams) on Wednesday that the loser should have to play Bolingbrook,” Nussbaum quipped. But it is indeed his Redhawks that get a crack at the explosive Raiders after Friday night’s 46-41 win. Scouting Bolingbrook, Nussbaum came away quite impressed. “With the exception of our 2003 and 2004 teams (both state champions), and I’m partial, this is the best high school basketball team I have ever seen,” Nussbaum said. “They can do everything. They shoot really well. They rebound really well. …
Friday, February 18, 2011
Naperville Central 46, Neuqua Valley 41: Redhawks run streak to 14 wins in 15 games; reacht first sectional since 2008.
The Hot Read: Neuqua Valley had cut Naperville Central’s lead to 35-34 in the middle of the fourth quarter, but Jamie Cuny’s three-pointer with 2 minutes 40 seconds left sparked a 9-1 run that helped the Redhawks pull away and win the Class 4A East Aurora Regional title. The win was Central’s 14th victory in its past 15 games, a streak that started with a 45-40 win over Neuqua on Jan. 11. It’s the Redhawks’ first regional title since a seven-year streak of regional crowns was snapped in 2008. The game also featured two significant milestones. Coach Andy Nussbaum picked up his 500thcareer win and senior point guard Emma Ondik scored her 1,500th career point. She’s the third Central player to reach that milestone, following Erica Carter and …
Warriors established their intensity early, cruise to 51-30 regional-title win over Oswego East; sectional rematch with Benet looms.
DOWNERS GROVE – Earning a No. 2 sectional seed put a target directly on the back of Waubonsie Valley’s girls basketball heading into the postseason. And the Warriors came out with a lackluster performance in Tuesday’s win over Metea Valley in the regional semifinal. In the day between that win and Thursday’s Class 4A Downers Grove South Regional title game against Oswego East, that lack of enthusiasm was clearly addressed. The Warriors looked like a different team in their 51-30 win, advancing to the Romeoville Sectional. The Warriors scored the first seven points of the game in the opening 1 minutes 21 seconds, forcing three quick turnovers and limiting the Wolves to no shot attempts in the process. Oswego East never threatened again. “We…
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Waubonsie Valley 51, Oswego East 30. Warriors shake off sluggish win over Metea Valley, roll to fifth straight regional crown.
The Hot Read: Waubonsie Valley scored the first seven points of the game in the first 1 minute 21 seconds of the first quarter and never looked back, rolling to its fifth consecutive regional title at the Class 4A Downers Grove South Regional Thursday. The lead swelled to 25-10 in the second quarter, but Oswego East cut the lead to 33-24 after three quarters. The Warriors then answered by scoring the first 12 points of the fourth quarter to put the game away. It was Oswego East’s first appearance in a regional championship game. Patch’s MVP: Waubonsie Valley sophomore Gratia Brooks dominated the post, tying Becky Williford for game-high scoring honors with 13 points, on 6-for-7 shooting from the field, and helped the Warriors to a 38-29 …
Antionette Taylor-Thomas
9:34 am on Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Will a third win be a record? more ›