Girls Basketball: Plainfield Central falls to West Chicago

Updated: December 28, 2011 11:44PM

A frantic pace in the first quarter left Plainfield Central a step behind in the second during the Wildcats’ 66-40 loss to West Chicago in the quarterfinal round of the fifth annual Oswego East Holiday Classic on Wednesday.

Leading 15-13 late in the first quarter, West Chicago (8-4) went on a 23-3 run to take command in the battle of Wildcats.

“They are a good team and their team executed against our press better than anybody,” Central coach Mark Krusz said. “Combine that with us not being aggressive and it got away from us. They are a good team.”

Plainfield Central (8-5) will face No. 2 seed and defending champion Andrew (8-3) at 3:30 p.m. Thursday for the right to play in the fifth-place game at 2 p.m. Friday.

“Andrew is another good team,” Krusz said. “We’re going to see how they do against what we do and that’s how the chess match goes. It could be a nail-biter or a blowout for either school. We’ll have to wait and see on that one.”

Brigid Hanley’s basket late in the first quarter gave Plainfield Central a 15-13 lead.

Plainfield Central substituted the entire lineup moments later. West Chicago took advantage with an 8-0 run to take a 21-15 lead into the second quarter.

The starting five returned to start the second. However, Plainfield made just one basket in the second and trailed 36-18 at the half.

“I thought if I kept our other girls in… they were getting fatigued,” Krusz said. “I don’t think the kids we brought in played that poorly and I don’t think the game was won or lost in a two-minute span.”

Hanley led the local Wildcats in scoring with 17 points, to go along with three rebounds and three steals.

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