LOMBARD – Senior Miranda Grizaffi scored what Batavia girls basketball coach Kevin Jensen referred to as “a very loud 12 points” on Wednesday as the Bulldogs surged past Bogan, 70-51, on Wednesday in the first round of the Montini Christmas Tournament.
The Bulldogs’ lead was only one point at halftime but Batavia took control in the second half, thanks largely to four straight three-point makes by Grizaffi.
“When she’s on, she’s got the smoothest shot on our team,” Jensen said. “Liza (Fruendt) is our scorer, Sami (Villarreal) has a really nice shot, at times we have a handful of girls out there who can shoot a three, but when she’s on, she can make a bunch in a row I don’t even think any of them hit rim.”
Fruendt led Batavia (11-5) with 20 points and freshman Hannah Frazier added 15 points for the Bulldogs, who continue tournament play today against perennial powerhouse Montini at 3 p.m.
“We got what we wanted,” Jensen said of the Montini matchup. “The girls came out and joked about it and said, first off, we don’t want to come back and play at 8 a.m. [in the consolation bracket]. We want to come back and play the top team in the tournament, so we’re pretty excited about that.”
Wheaton North Tournament: St. Charles East fell behind early and lost its first-round game against Lyons, 57-48. The Saints (7-7) were led by Paige Jordan and Amanda Hilton, who scored 14 points apiece.
East continues tournament play at noon today against Jacobs.
Dundee-Crown Tournament: St. Charles North was competitive with Evanston for most of the game but was outscored 23-4 in the fourth quarter and fell, 63-41.
Sam Novak scored 12 points, Nicole Davidson had 10 points and Morgan Rosencrants added nine points and eight rebounds for North, which will face Resurrection at 11 a.m. today in consolation action.
Oswego East Tournament: Aurora Central Catholic scored a season-high 69 points in trouncing Plainfield Central, 69-39, in its tournament opener. Alex DeCrane (17 points), Kalie Soris (15) and Lisa Rodriguez (14) paced ACC, which improved to 6-5 on the season.
Lisle Invite: Wheaton Academy topped Westmont, 37-32, behind 10 points from Marissa Gagliano. The Warriors jumped to a 15-4 lead after the first quarter.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Chuck Dayton Tournament: Marmion won in overtime for the second straight time at the tournament, beating Chicago Vocational, 72-68.
The Cadets continue tournament play at 6:30 p.m. today against Winnebago.
Plano Tournament: Aurora Christian shot a whopping 86 percent from the field in the second half and Cory Windle scored 31 points as the Eagles raced past Mendota, 94-83. Ryan McQuade scored 20 points for Aurora Christian, which advances to face Hinckley-Big Rock in a tournament quarterfinal at 3:30 p.m. today.
In the consolation draw, Burlington Central (4-8) defeated Sandwich, 65-41.
