Hunzinger sparks Downers North

Updated: March 23, 2011 2:02PM

Katie Hunzinger's return after missing three games was just the spark Downers Grove North needed in its rematch against Hinsdale Central as the Trojans won 58-48 on Monday.

Hunzinger scored a game-high 15 points, all in the second half, while coming off the bench for the 13th-seeded Trojans. The usual starter missed practice for the past week and turned into a reserve Monday night per team rules -- starters who miss practice do not start their next game.

She entered the Class 4A East Aurora Regional quarterfinal against 20th-seeded Hinsdale Central in the first quarter and missed her first seven shot attempts.

Hunzinger missed time due to a sprained left ankle, but scraped her right ankle during the playoff opener.

"It felt good coming back," Hunzinger said. "This was my first game off the injury. They beat us in overtime the last time. Coming out with a regional win is that much sweeter."

Hunzinger kicked it into gear with nine points in the fourth quarter. The game was tied at 39 with 3:28 remaining in the fourth quarter when the Trojans (12-13) scored 12 consecutive points to decide the game.

DGN will play fourth-seeded Naperville Central (22-8) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the regional semifinal. The Redhawks were the co-champions of the DuPage Valley Conference with Wheaton Warrenville South.

Hinsdale Central (3-26), which set a school record for losses in a season, suffered a first-round playoff defeat for the first time since 1990 when the Devils lost to Argo 58-42. That 9-13 team rebounded from a one-win season in 1989 and was led by co-MVPs Becky Waughop and Kari Jorgensen.

Monday night's loss ended a run of four consecutive regional titles for the Devils. Central won consecutive regional titles from 1991-2002.

The Devils ended the season with seven consecutive losses. Hinsdale's last win was a 55-51 overtime win against Downers North on Jan. 25. The Trojans won the first meeting 70-46 on Dec. 14.

Freshman Sarah Costello scored nine of her 13 points in the first half for the Trojans while Alison Schuster (eight rebounds) added 12 points and Mary Echemann had 10.

Hinsdale Central was led by Avery Anderson's 12 points, but the guard fouled out with 28.9 seconds remaining. Mary Byrne (seven rebounds) added 10 points.

The Devils' leading scorer, Christine Rush, was held to eight points on 4-of-18 shooting. She scored two points in the first half and battled foul trouble.

Downers North, which entered the game with five losses in its last six contests, limited the Devils to only one field goal for 7:31 in the second quarter, but Hinsdale Central led 20-18 at halftime.

The Trojans outscored Hinsdale 20-8 at the free throw line.

"I've coached 23 years with girls and I don't know how many with boys," said first-year Devils coach Tom McKenna. "I told them, "This is one of my top three favorite all-time teams.' I told them they are my heroes.'"

The high school careers ended for the senior trio of Anderson, Rush and Brennan.

"My favorite memory is just being with the team," Rush said. "We did everything together."

Hinsdale Central actually led 13-6 after the first quarter, but let the game slip away in the fourth quarter after freshman Maddie Roglich's driving layup, her only basket, tied the game at 39. The Trojans started the decisive run on Costello's 10-foot jumper.

"We did not play tightly on D," Rush said. "And our shots were not falling."

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