Hawks quick start, deep bench overwhelm Rebels girls hoops

LANSING | Thornton Fractional South girls basketball coach Steve Breshock said his team know what it was up against Monday night, and Hillcrest in turn confirmed those concerns.

The Hawks asserted their talent, depth and experience -- especially in the first and third quarters -- to roll to a comfortable 73-34 South Suburban Blue win at T.F. South.

The loss dropped the Rebels (14-8 overall, 10-2 SSB) to third place in the division behind league-leading T.F. North and Hillcrest (22-3, 12-1).

"They are very talented," Breshock said. "We got some rebounds against them, but not enough. We knew that's how they'd win, and that's how they did it."

The Rebels starting lineup featured senior Ashley Bryant and four underclassmen, none of whom are taller than 5-foot-3. While the Hawks had a size advantage for rebounding throughout the contest, the visitors also played a tenacious defense right from the start that paralyzed South's offense.

Hillcrest jumped to a 24-3 lead by the end of a first quarter, during which time the second team played more minutes than the starters. The Rebels managed to play the Hawks even in the second quarter before a 28-point scoring performance by Hillcrest in the third quarter put the visitor's ahead by 25 points and all but closed the book on the Senior Night contest.

"We were breaking the trap well, but we didn't attack enough when we got over the half-court line," Breshock said, "and that's where you really have to keep going."

Eleven different players scored for the Hawks, led by junior guard Dana Gettis (19 points) and Seton Hall-bound senior Shannise Heady, who scored nine points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out five assists in limited action. Gettis scored many of her nine field goals in transition off of turnovers. Guard Samirah Ali and forward Mariam Awoniyi also added nine points apiece for the Hawks.

Hillcrest coach John Maniatis said Monday's win turned into a good opportunity to work on different player combinations in advance of next week's start to the playoffs.

"I thought our kids played good basketball in the first quarter," Maniatis said. "We got a little sloppy in the second quarter, but in the third quarter I thought we played with a mission on the defensive end."

Breshock praised the play of sophomore Ninah Bertrand and junior Kaitlin Togtman. Bertrand scored 13 points and battled against much taller players for six rebounds, while Togtman (11 points) proved to be the Rebels best perimeter threat by making three three-point shots.

"They are the two shortest kids on the court for me, and they gave me the most effort tonight," Breshock said. "They usually do."