Girls Basketball: Kankakee Valley, Knox advance

Updated: February 7, 2012 10:25PM

WHEATFIELD — Knox and Kankakee Valley advanced to the semifinals of the Class 3A Kankakee Valley Sectional in decidedly different ways, with Knox defeating Andrean 53-28, and KV getting a big surge in the second half to edge Rensselaer 40-37.

In the second game, it was a thriller most of the way, with neither team getting an advantage.

But in the end, it was the Kougars’ blend of two seniors with a talented bunch of sophomores that was the difference.

“It came down to seniors — our seniors didn’t play badly, but in the end their seniors (Hailey Rueskin and Tori VanVuren) played well,” said Bombers head coach Jeff Marlow.

Rensselear’s juniors, in particular Laura Tonner, played well in the second half.

But Hailey Ruesken, who was in foul trouble much of the first half, responded when she returned in the third quarter. Her two big plays in the third quarter gave the Kougars a 24-13 lead. Although the Bombers fought back to within one with two Tonner free throws at 4:04, the Kougars pumped up the tempo, and Ruesken put KV up for good at 35-33 with 2:50 to play.

“Our sophomores are a special group,” said KV coach Ryan Myers. “They play with a lot of confidence. They are a real fun group.”

Lauren Stokes and Bethany Jansma, a pair of sophomores, finished with 11 and 12 points to lead KV. Tonner led the Bombers with 14 points while Emilie Ziese had 12.

Knox was never challenged by Andrean

Junior Kaitlin Zachary had 12 rebounds and nine points for Knox, while senior Shelby Gilbert sealed the deal for Knox when she stole the ball three consecutive times to run the score from 29-20 to 36-20. Gilbert scored nine points, and Hope Wagner had 14 to lead the Redskins.

Knox coach Dan Huizenga said that Chelseas Combs’ two 3-pointers to start the game set the tone, and Wagner was able to work off the high post and help run the offense with her aggressive play. Nikki Frasure was big on the boards and paced the team defensively

Andrean was led by Brenna Boyle with 10 and Sheyanne Irvin added nine.

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