Girls Basketball: Bolingbrook runs past Lincoln-Way East
By Tim O’Brien For Sun-Times Media January 17, 2012 10:58PM
Bolingbrook's Nia Moore grabs a loose ball from Lincoln-Way East's Taylor Johnson. | Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: February 19, 2012 8:23AM
Bolingbrook’s Morgan Tuck has seen just about everything a defense can throw at her. But the Connecticut-bound senior doesn’t just see it. She reacts to it.
“In the post the double-team is usually there,” Tuck said. “It’s not a surprise, but it’s still difficult. It gets easier, but it’s never ‘Oh, double team. I can score.’ I’m still working really hard.”
With host Lincoln-Way East throwing double- and triple-teams at her each time she touched the ball in the post, Tuck fought her way to the basket to the tune of 32 points and 20 rebounds in Tuesday night’s 78-48 win in a battle in the SouthWest Suburban Blue.
“She’s so versatile so you try and slow her up,” East coach Jim Martin said.
Nia Moore added 12 points for No. 1 Bolingbrook (14-1, 7-0), with Keiera Ray and Allie Hill scoring nine apiece.
Taylor Johnson led Lincoln-Way East (14-2, 5-1) with 23 points, to go with 14 from Caitlin McMahon and 10 from Meaghan McMahon.
Bolingbrook simply out-talled the Griffins in the first half, getting an offensive rebound on seemingly every miss. Tuck had a double-double by halftime as the Raiders went up 46-28. Bolingbrook shot 20 of 35 from the field in the first half.
“We have to outrebound teams,” Tuck said. “With our size, (rebounding) should just be a pride thing. That was our focus, and we did pretty well today.”
Lincoln-Way East stuck with the defending state champion Raiders but never could chip away at the lead. The Griffins got to within 19 points in the middle of the third quarter before Bolingbrook pulled away.
“Playing them straight is nearly impossible,” Martin said. “We played with them and ran well. Our energy was there. We told our kids to ‘get it and shoot it. You’re good shooters.’ ”
