The Riverside-Brookfield High School girls basketball team won two conference games by a total of four points last week. The Bulldogs escaped Elgin with a 62-59 win over host St. Edward on Saturday and also squeaked out a 51-50 victory against visiting Aurora Central Catholic on Thursday, Jan. 7.
Junior guards Sam Bloom (19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) and Lyndsey Hoyd (13 points) led the way against St. Edward. Jess JnoBaptiste had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds plus three blocks and promising freshman Maddie Meehan contributed seven points and six boards. Allie Kucera and Maggie Shereck chipped in six points apiece.
“The kids realize that we need contributions from everyone to be successful,” RBHS coach Dallas Till said. “I’m proud of the kids. I feel like we have been taking a more selfless approach lately.”
RBHS made eight 3-pointers, 14 of 19 free throws (74 percent) and scored 16 second-chance points against the Green Wave.
“We are sharing the ball, and collectively, our rebounding has improved drastically,” Till said. “I was pleased that we were able to finish. Hopefully these tight games will prepare us for similar situations in the state tournament.”
While they shot the ball well against St. Edward, the Bulldogs also had 25 turnovers
“We had a double digit lead against St Edward with 2 minutes remaining,” Till said. “We have to limit turnovers and keep our foot on the gas pedal. I realize its cliché but we need play to win as opposed to playing not to lose.”
RBHS (12-7, 5-1 Metro Suburban Conference) is currently tied with Glenbard South atop the conference standings, although the Raiders beat the Bulldogs 44-32 in a mid-December meeting. The teams will play again at RBHS on Feb. 2.
“Glenbard South holds the tiebreaker at this point based on head to head,” Till said. “We play them again so we essentially control our own destiny, but there is a long way to go.”
Fenwick boys basketball
Fresh off their impressive second-place finish at the Proviso West Holiday Tournament, the Friars won two of three games to improve to 13-2.
Benet spoiled the Friars’ bid for a perfect week Saturday with a fourth-quarter rally en route to a 44-41 upset victory. Mike Smith led Fenwick with 13 points and Jacob Keller had eight points, six rebounds and four steals.
Smith scored 18 points and dished out nine assists in a 74-56 win over Montini. He also scored 18 points and Mike Ballard contributed 14 points in a 61-52 victory against Notre Dame.
“Our goal is to go Downstate but we’re just focused on winning one game at a time,” Keller said. “We were talking about this the other day that we’re halfway through the season. We’re having fun each game and drinking it all in.”
RBHS wrestling
The Bulldogs cruised past host Rich South in a nonconference dual meet. Senior captains Joel Gonzalez and Ernesto Bobe along with Maxx Reeze and Carson Moreno each pinned his opponent for a win and Julian Blanco notched a tech fall victory.
The team kicked off 2016 with wins against Hampshire (49-30) and Johnsburg (54-18) and a loss to Lincoln-Way East (36-23) in a home quad on Jan. 2
RBHS travels to Bensenville Thursday to take on rival Fenton with the Metro Suburban Conference title at stake.
Fenwick boys swimming
The Friars finished fourth with a score of 215 points at the 22nd Annual Marquette Invitational Swim Meet in Brown Deer, Wis.
Senior Cavan Smith took second in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 52.58 seconds. Fenwick also swam well in the relays as the quartet of Tommy Bartecki, Chez Daggs, Smith and Mickey McGuire finished second in the 200 medley relay (1:39.50), while Ryan Clark, Daggs, Smith and McGuire placed third in the 200 free relay (1:30.08).
Fenwick will compete in Sandburg Invite at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16.
Fenwick boys hockey
The Friars rallied twice over the weekend to notch victories against Brother Rice and Notre Dame in a pair of CCHL games. On Saturday, Fenwick edged the Crusaders 6-5 at the Beverly Sports Complex in Chicago.
The team consolidated that win with a 5-4 overtime decision Sunday over the Dons at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville. The Friars scored three goals in the third period and the game-winner in overtime.
