Girls Basketball: Cabriana Capers sets tone for Bolingbrook

Updated: December 13, 2011 9:56PM

Somebody at Bolingbrook always has to do the dirty work, the things that few fans notice but a coach can truly appreciate.

A few years ago, it was Mauvoleyne Adams. This year, it’s Cabriana Capers.

Capers, a 6-foot-1 senior forward, had eight points, eight rebounds, four steals, two blocked shots and two assists Tuesday to lead No. 2 Bolingbrook to a 56-25 victory over Sandburg in the Southwest Suburban Conference Blue.

Morgan Tuck led the Raiders (4-0, 2-0) with 18 points and Keiera Ray added nine points and six rebounds. But it was Capers whose defense made life miserable around the bucket for Sandburg and who contributed to an 18-3 Bolingbrook run to open the second half with a rebound basket and a nice feed to Tuck.

“I cut it loose a little bit tonight,” Capers said. “Something’s been on my mind the last few games, but I totally focused on this game.”

Bolingbrook stymied the visitors in the first half, holding Sandburg (5-4, 1-1) to just 14 points.

“In practice, we work on playing defense,” Capers said. “We work on defense mostly. Me and Morgan work on defense constantly. Defense wins championships.”

Offensively, however, the Raiders were no bargain in the first half either. The Raiders needed back-to-back baskets by Tuck in the final two minutes to lead 25-14 at the break.

“You’re dealing with 17-year-old girls,” Bolingbrook coach Anthony Smith said. “They miss a layup, they get emotional and try to overcompensate for it. It’s just a layup. We missed it. Get the next one. Roll on with the next one. Sometimes they let one bad play turn into three or four.

“I asked them to play with a little more energy in the second half,” the coach added. “Sandburg did a pretty good job of spreading us out and making us chase them. I think the girls got a little tired because they were chasing them and not scoring. So, of course, you get tired quicker on the offensive end.”

Jen Pache led Sandburg with nine points and nine rebounds, and Kristen Bailey added seven points and six rebounds.

“Obviously, they’re one of the best teams in the country,” Sandburg coach Chris Hellrung said. “We can’t simulate their defense in our practices. I thought our girls played really hard and fought for everything they got. But when it comes down to it, (Bolingbrook’s) athleticism is just really good.”

With plenty of room for improvement, Capers said.

“Our team is better than how we played,” Capers said. “We won ugly, but we still won. We have time and patience to get better.”

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