Hinckley-Big Rock starts on right note

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:04PM

The first quarter of Aubree Lawrence's coaching debut went well, until Immaculate Conception played the second quarter.

Hinckley-Big Rock showed why it's the two-time Class 1A defending state champion when the Royals turned an 11-point, first-quarter deficit into a rout with a 52-32 victory Monday night in the opening round of the Somonauk Breakout tournament.

Senior Alyssa Baunach, who averaged 3.8 points per game last season, scored a career-high 16 points to lead H-BR in the first day of the girls basketball season. The Royals avenged a 46-45 loss to IC in the third game of last year's tournament, one of only two losses last season for H-BR.

"It's a good feeling. We lost to them last year with a full roster," Baunach said.

Senior guard Allie DiVito sparked the Knights with three quick three-pointers to open the game, but DiVito picked up her third foul with 5:44 remaining in the second quarter. DiVito did not return for the rest of the second half. Things began to unravel for the Knights just before DiVito's second foul.

The Royals limited IC to only three baskets in over 20 minutes after Stephanie Stahl scored on a 12-foot jumper to give IC a 15-4 lead. Baunach scored 12 of her points in the first half and Kaitlin Phillips added 14 points for the Royals in the game.

H-BR went on a 28-4 run to end the first half.

"I thought after the first couple of minutes stretch, we did a nice job," said H-BR coach Greg Burks, who is 64-5 entering his third season. "That is a solid ball club. They will win plenty of ball games this year."

Top returning scorer Tess Godhardt (13.2 ppg) did not start after missing Saturday's practice, but scored 12 points off the bench.

DiVito finished with 13 points, including the three three-pointers, and was IC's only scorer in double digits.

"Better now than later," said Lawence, who previously was an assistant coach at St. Charles East. "The best thing about what happened is that tomorrow we get back at it to play again (against Aurora Central). There is not a lot of time to dwell on it."

Wheaton Academy 44, Aurora Central 38: Kelly Nemec's short jumper with one minute remaining broke a 36-36 tie and the Warriors never trailed again in its season opener.

The Chargers made only 2-of-5 free throws in the final minute . Allison Witt scored 13 points and Sarah Drury added 11 for Wheaton. Jacquie Cardona led ACC with 14 points.

Seneca 52, Somonauk 18: Vanessa Albarran (14) and Coley Baker (12) led the Irish in the tournament opener over the host Bobcats.

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