Girls Basketball: Niles North’s Mariyah Henley, Alissa Hirsch double team Regina

Updated: December 10, 2011 11:12PM

Mariyah Henley took care of the first half for the Niles North Vikings. And point guard Alissa Hirsh did the same in the second half.

Visiting Regina Dominican did not go quietly on Saturday in the Niles North gym. Hirsch’s personal nine-point run in the second half was the difference in the Vikings’ 38-29 nonconference victory.

“This is our 10th game,” Hirsh said. “We are trying to go far this year. We want to go deep in the sectional.”

In this low-scoring affair, the Vikings held tightly to a 14-13 halftime lead. Henley easily led all scorers at the break with 10 points. She would finish with a double-double (15 points, 12 rebounds).

“She really goes after the ball,” said Niles North coach Dan Paxson. “She battles for every rebound.”

The visitors used a more balanced approach. The Panthers had six scorers at halftime.

“We missed too many layups,” said Regina’s first-year coach, Kerry Durham. “It was really our inability to put the ball in the basket.”

Still, on a drive to the hoop by junior Lindsay Welch, the Panthers took a 15-14 lead in the third quarter.

“Regina came back and fought,” Hirsh said.

The home team answered Regina’s challenge by scoring in threes. There was a three-point play from junior Rachel Matthies and a three-pointer from Henley that opened up a 24-19 advantage.

About this time, Hirsh took this game over. She would finish with a game-high 17 points. Matthies added six points to the Vikings’ attack.

Regina’s balanced offense was led 6-foot-1 Caroline Adamczyk, who scored nine points. Molly Martin added seven points for the Panthers.

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