Girls basketball: L-W North gets past Plainfield North

Updated: November 14, 2011 9:13PM

With several players in the lineup who had a lot to do with Lincoln-Way North winning 21 games last season, it wasn’t surprising to see the Phoenix build a sizable first-half lead Monday night against visiting Plainfield North.

Lincoln-Way North stymied a quick surge from Plainfield North early in the fourth quarter and held on for a 49-37 victory in the season opener for both teams.

“I liked the energy of our inside game, attacking the glass,’’ Phoenix coach Jim Nair said. “Being active, contesting shots.’’

Part of the reason Lincoln-Way north opened a 23-10 lead midway through the second quarter was the 22-12 rebounding advantage the Phoenix had in the first half.

“Ellen Graham (10 rebounds) and Elise Lampley (7 rebounds) did a great job for us tonight on the glass,’’ Nair said.

Lincoln-Way North was led in scoring by guards Ashley Weringa (13 points) and Leigh Larocco (11). Sam Pietruszynski chipped in eight points for the game, including three 3-pointers.

Back-to-back 3s from Larocco and Pietruszynski made it 23-10 with 4:12 to play in the half. The Phoenix led 25-14 at halftime

“I think we got some opportune 3-point shots to fall, when we were kind of stumbling on offense,’’ Nair said.

Carlie Corrigan scored a game-high 22 points for Plainfield North. Kaitlyn O’Boye contributed six points and 10 rebounds.

“We have a lot of questions that we have to get answered this year,’’ Plainfield North coach Jim Walter said. “We could have laid down tonight and we never did.’’

Corrigan hit a jumper to open the fourth quarter as Plainfield North got to within 36-31 with 5 minutes, 5 seconds left in the game. That was as close as the Tigers would get.

Weringa connected on a 3-pointer and Graham got free underneath for a layup to give the Phoenix a 41-31 cushion with 3:54 remaining.

“It’s going to be a lot of smoke and mirrors with us this year,’’ Walter said.

Ballhandling will be an issue for Lincoln-Way North early in the season.

“We have a lot of work to do as far as taking care of the basketball and improving as we go,’’ Nair said.

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