Girls Basketball: Benet’s Prasse sisters too much for Naperville North

Updated: December 23, 2011 11:18PM

Benet is a hard team to categotize. They are not tallest team around, the fastest or the most physical.

Their versatility sets them apart. Especially any team trying to contain the Prasse sisters, 5-10 junior guard Christen and 5-9 senior Sidney. The two are excellent ballhandlers, shooters and defenders.

They scored 17 points each in powering the No. 15 Redwings to the 76-60 victory over Naperville North in the championship of the Naperville North/Benet Holiday tournament Friday night in Lisle.

“We’re best friends off the court, and we can read each other on the floor,” Christen Prasse said. “We’re just good with sharing the ball. We’ve been playing with most of each other since kindergarten. We just have good team chemistry.”

The victory marked the eighth consecutive win for the Redwins (12-4) and it also smashed the Huskies’ six-game win streak.

“Both teams were on winning streaks coming into this game, and it was just a matter of who wanted it more,” Christen Prasse said.

“I think we showed we did, especially in the second half,” she added.

Senior Nicole Valentine scored 16 points and senior Madeline Eilers contributed 10 points for Benet.

The teams battled to a 35-35 draw at the break. Sidney Prasse’s three-pointer capped an 18-10 Benet run at the start of the third quarter that put the Redwings in command. Benet stretched the lead to 57-47 early in the fourth quarter.

Christen Prasse said the Redwings are just starting to recognize their potential. “Coming into this season, we knew we were going to be a good team, it was just a matter of how far we wanted to go and how bad we wanted it,”

Shannon Bushman scored 19 points in leading Naperville North (9-6). The Huskies closed within 66-60 on a bucket by Kayla Sharples (13 rebounds). Benet spread the floor and forced Naperville North to foul. The Redwings connected on 8-of-10 free throw attempts to pull away.

Zoe Swift added 17 points and Kathleen Hahne had nine for the Huskies.

“The sad thing is, the score doesn’t indicate how close the game was,” Naperville North coach Jacqui Discipio said. “Benet is a great team. They have great amazing shooters. My girls did a good job. They hung with them. I think we scared them a couple of times.

“I thought my girls fought hard,” she added. “They (Benet) have great shooters and no matter we did, no matter what defense we tried, they can put the ball in the hoop every single time.”

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