Lady Dukes Battle to Victory Over Glenbard West Friday

The lady Dukes used a big third quarter to pull ahead of the Hilltoppers, and then managed to hold on through a tense fourth quarter to triumph, 40-36.

It was the second consecutive game that Glenbard West and York played against each other. The previous encounter was part of the Benet Holiday Tournament and was tightly contested and the lady Hilltoppers won by two points. For this game, the lady Dukes were without senior Molly Holmes, who broke her collarbone in practice last week.

These two evenly matched teams were at it again Friday night. There were six lead changes in the first quarter alone, and no team led by more than three points in the first half.   

Ellen Nighbor got the scoring started for the Hilltoppers with a quick two points.  York bounced back with a three pointer, and the back-and-forth half was underway. 

York worked hard away from the ball, which led to a lot of players getting touches and taking shots.  Four lady Dukes scored in the opening quarter, giving York 10-8 lead. 

“We really practiced how to attack their zone, because the first game it killed us” said York senior guard Tawny Tucci.  “We moved without the ball, helped teammates with screens and attacked and dished”.

The Hilltopper defense turned it on in the second quarter. A deflection by Natalie Noland led to a Hilltopper steal, and Ellen Nighbor and Caitlin Soane both had two blocked shots.  Abby Keiman dropped in a three point shot, as the Hilltoppers overtook the Lady Dukes to take a 17-15 half time lead.

A very determined York came back in the third quarter. Aggressive defense complemented their crisp offense as they scored the first five points, including a three point play by AnnaBell Lansdowne.  West baskets by Soane and Keiman gave the Hilltoppers a temporary lead, but they were outscored by York 9-2 the rest of the quarter.  Alex Harrell and Tawny Tucci combined for six of the nine points in the stretch. 

“We came out flat, and they came out and took it to us” said Hilltopper coach Mike Hofland.  “Every loose ball, they got”.

Down 29-23 at the start of the fourth quarter, West chipped away at the York lead, almost catching them. 

“We got more aggressive in the fourth quarter” said Hilltopper center Caitlin Soane.  “We just really wanted to win it”.

York held a perilous 37-35 advantage with 26.8 seconds left in the game. With little time left, West had to resort to fouling to stop the clock. Tucci scored the last three York points on free throws to put the game away, giving the lady Dukes a 40-36 victory.

“It was nice to see the attitude in the fourth quarter – hopefully we can carry that forward” said Hofland.

For Glenbard West, Caitlin Soane led all scorers with 19 points, followed by Abby Keiman with 8 points and Natalie Noland with 6. York’s Tawny Tucci led the Lady Dukes with 13 points, followed by AnnaBell Lansdowne with 11.

“It was going to be one of those games where we had to battle, battle, battle and make plays at the end” said York coach Jason Reinecke. “I was proud of the girls and the way they responded tonight”.

York next plays at home on Jan. 14 against Downers Grove South, while Glenbard West’s next home game is Jan. 16 against Nequa Valley.

Glenbard West     8    9    6    13  FINAL 36

York                   10   5   14   11  FINAL 40