Girls Basketball: Plainfield Central reaches quarters at Oswego East

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Updated: January 29, 2012 8:14AM

The number 21 was lucky for Plainfield Central during a 69-31 blowout of East Aurora in the first round of the fifth annual Oswego East Holiday Classic on Tuesday.

The Wildcats (8-4) had 21 steals, scored 21 points in the first quarter and advanced to face No. 3 seed West Chicago at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in quarterfinal play.

“This was clearly our best game of the year,” Plainfield Central coach Mark Krusz said about the 9 a.m. tilt. “We played great defense. I’m not sure how many steals we had, but a lot of them turned into assisted layups for us.”

Eleven players scored for the Wildcats, led by Emily O’Bradovich’s 14 points. Brigid Hanley, the school’s all-time leading scorer, added to her total with 12 points. Defensively, Plainfield Central held Aurora East to just four points on two baskets in the second quarter.

“We were very unselfish today and that turned into a great team victory for us,” Krusz said.

Plainfield Central led 37-12 at the break and 57-24 heading into the fourth quarter.

South Elgin 61, Plainfield East 49: A 15-2 run in the first half and a 15-3 spurt in the second led South Elgin.

“They had really good movement in their offense and they hurt us a lot driving and dishing,” East coach Missy Mitidiero said. “We didn’t play our game on offense or defense. It wasn’t Bengal basketball. That’s not what we pride ourselves on, so we have a lot of work to do and no practices the next few days.”

South Elgin scored 12 straight points to end the first and start the second quarter to turn a one-point deficit late in the first into a 20-11 lead midway through the second quarter.

Gina Mathews’ layup off Nina Maggio’s steal was the only field goal during the Storm’s 15-2 spurt.

Plainfield East (8-4) made just three field goals during the second quarter and trailed 27-20 at the break.

“You have to give them credit for making us suffer that badly,” Mitidiero said. “If you can’t stop people on defense, you are never going to win.”

Faith Suggs (10 points) found a cutting Dominique Hartsfield and Gabby Williams (14) put back her own miss to open the second quarter for Plainfield East, shaving the lead to 27-24 However, South Elgin (9-4) pulled away via a 15-3 run. The Storm led 44-29 after three quarters.

Suggs’ driving layup trimmed South Elgin’s lead to 48-39 with 4:44 to play. That was as close as the Bengals would get.

Andrew 47 Plainfield North 41: Carlie Corrigan’s 17 points and 16 assists weren’t enough for Plainfield North (2-9) against the top-seeded Thunderbolts (8-2).

Aurora Central 69 Joliet Central 47: Nijea Dixon scored 16 points and LaSoji Ward tallied 14 for Joliet Central (3-4).

Downers Grove South 52, Lemont 25: Alena Pranckevicius had seven points for Lemont (4-8).