Hawks Lash New Trier 67-61 In Girls' Basketball

Maine South used a barrage of first half three-point shooting as they outlasted New Trier 67-61 on Friday night in girl’s basketball.

The Hawks were paced by Michelle Maher’s 23 points while teammate Jacqui Grant chipped in 12.

“I tried to play my hardest and my teammates did a good job of getting me involved and we knocked down a lot of shots,” said Grant, minutes after the win. “It’s a really good feeling.”

It was an empty feeling for New Trier (13-6, 2-4 CSL South) star Maggie Lyon.

The junior sharpshooter, who boasts a bevy of major division 1 offers, was in tears after the game in which she put forth a shooting performance she may like to forget.

“It’s really embarrassing,” said Lyon, who finished 7-22 from the field and scored 19 points. “We gave them the game.”

The game started as if New Trier was ready to play.

Lyon hit a three-pointer and then a short turnaround jumper while teammates Jessica Blackwell and Megan Hoch got in on the scoring as well as New Trier led 9-3. But, Maine South (17-5, 6-0 CSL South) countered with a 12-0 run courtesy of a trio of three-pointers by Maher and quickly took a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

New Trier would try their hardest but the closest they would get again was 54-52 with 3:41 to go following a basket by Brigit Ieuter. Only 76 seconds later and Maine South, courtesy of a Grant basket, a Kaitlyn Mullarkey three and a pair of Nine Duric free throws were back up seven at 61-54.

“Our girls are so tough,” said Maine South coach Mark Smith. “We said we have to get every 50-50 play. The kids battled for every loose ball on the floor and every ball up on the rim.”

For New Trier, a host of defensive woes seemed to be the problem, according to senior Abbey Schmitt.

“We need to keep working on the little things,” Schmitt said, “like boxing out and rebounding in particular. We just need to keep our mindset good, have pride in our defense and keep working at it.”