The Riverside Brookfield girls basketball team overcame an eight-point halftime deficit and edged Fenton 43-41, Thursday, for their first victory of the season.
Alyssa Morris scored 15 points, including her fifth three that tied the game 39-39 with about two minutes left. Morris then made 1 of 2 free throws three times as RBHS (1-5, 1-1 in Upstate Eight Conference East) pulled ahead 42-40.
After Abby Weinert sank one of two free throws for a 43-41 lead, Maya Tennicott’s shot block in the final seconds, and fourth for the second half, sealed the victory.
Morris had a double-double with 10 rebounds as well as five steals and three assists, followed by Addie Vaia (8 points with 2 threes, 5 steals), (6 points), Bella Perez (5 points) and Tali Herrera (5 points) and Weinert (3 steals, 3 assists).
RBHS lost to West Chicago Dec. 3. Morris (16 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals, 6 assists) and Perez (10 points with 2 threes, 3 steals) both scored in double figures, followed by Weinert (7 points, 10 rebounds) and Claire Evans (7 rebounds).
RBHS boys basketball
The Bulldogs (3-3) won their Upstate Eight Conference East Division opener 74-48 over visiting Fenton Dec. 6.
Cameron Mercer (21 points with 3 threes, 4 steals), Danny Loftus (18 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists), Mantas Sleinys (10 points, 7 rebounds), Colin Cimino (9 points with 2 threes) and Vince Dockendorf (6 points with 2 threes) and Liam Enright (5 rebounds, 7 assists) fueled the Bulldogs, who made 28 of 49 shots with eight threes on 23 assists.
Trailing 17-13 after one quarter, RBHS outscored the Bison 21-9 in the second quarter and 32-12 in the third to pull away 66-38.
On Saturday, RBHS lost to Perspectives, 73-54, at the Chicago Elite Classic at Illinois Chicago after trailing 41-16 at halftime. Mercer (19 points), Loftus (18 points, 9 rebounds), Dockendorf (6 points with 2 threes) and Sleinys (5 points) led RBHS.
LTHS girls basketball
Lyons Township High School girls basketball guard Gwen Smith says she still is working on improving her conditioning. The junior guard’s improved play this season includes often finishing off the Lions’ fast-break transitions.
On Saturday, Smith had 14 points in helping the undefeated Lions to one of their more impressive victories so far, 59-53 over Maine South, a 2024 Class 4A sectional finalist, at Fremd’s 10th annual Dave Yates Chicagoland Classic.
“I feel like I’ve definitely grown into my role and become way more confident with my shot and trusting myself,” Smith said.
With senior Nora Ezike (23 points) and juniors Emma O’Brien (18 points, 6 assists, 8 steals) and Avery Mezan (3 points), the Lions (8-0) took control in the third quarter and then held off the Hawks (6-2) down the stretch. Smith, Ezike and Tess Bernson each had five rebounds. The tournament named Ezike the Lions’ Player of the Game. Last year, Maine South lost to state champion Loyola Academy 53-47 in the sectional finals.
“Getting up and down the floor quickly is always part of our game plan and I thought the girls did that really well. We also started to match their physicality. We knew they had a lot of seniors returning,” LTHS coach Meghan Hutchens said.
The Lions also had three scorers in double figures in their strong season-opening 77-67 victory over Benet Academy.
“Having three of those athletes that can score or rebound in double figures (helps), and it doesn’t have to be all three of them together,” Hutchens said. “We have a solid five on the floor and the last time we had a solid five on the floor (in our program), we did really well.”
The Lions led 26-24 at halftime. Smith converted a fast break and O’Brien followed with a three-point play off her fast-break score to open a 46-36 lead. The Hawks closed to 57-53 before Ezike scored on a drive with 1:32 left and Ezike and Smith added free throws.
“Nora did a really good job attacking the basket and Emma hitting her shots and then we also really pushed transition,” Smith said. “I feel like when we have really good passing or plays, it brings up the energy.”
The Lions beat St. Ignatius 53-39 Thursday and Hinsdale Central 66-46 Dec. 3 in their West Suburban Conference Silver opener.
Ezike (29 points, 12 rebounds, 6 steals) had a double-double against St. Ignatius, followed by Smith (10 points with 2 threes, 7 rebounds) and O’Brien (8 points), Bernson (4 points) and Mezan (5 rebounds).
O’Brien had 22 points with two threes against Hinsdale Central, 19 points in the first half, with six rebounds and six steals. Ezike (18 points, 5 rebounds) and Smith (16 points) also reached double figures.
LTHS boys basketball
Senior Bobby Vespa scored 20 points but the Lions lost their West Suburban Conference Silver opener at Proviso West 63-56 Friday.
Ian Polonowski (14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists) and Owen Carroll (11 points) also reached double figures for the Lions (1-3), followed by Josh Gutierrez (5 points, 9 rebounds), Timmy Sloan (5 points, 7 assists) and Marshaun Russell (4 blocks).