Aurora Central Catholic runs past Kaneland

MAPLE PARK – Aurora Central Catholic ran over Kaneland, 73-48 in Maple Park during Tuesday night’s non-conference game.

The Knights hadn’t allowed 70 or more points since a 70-67 loss at Rosary on Dec. 14, 2017.

“The number one thing we said after the game was if we rebound like that, we’re not going to win a lot of games,” Knights coach Brian Claeeson said. “In the second half it destroyed us. And we’re facing a team on Friday in Morris that’s first in the conference and has three six-footers so if anything, it’s hopefully a learning experience.”

Aurora Central (14-2) seized control of the game early, scoring 13 straight points after Kyra Lilly scored to open the game for the Knights. The Chargers led 19-6 after one quarter.

“I think we’re averaging 60-something points a game and a lot of it comes through transition,” Chargers coach LeVada Smith said. “That’s something we really harp every practice. We’re always working on transition stuff, getting the ball out and just going. I think we have the horses to do it. We have a lot of athletic kids.”

Kaneland (11-6) trailed 35-20 at the half and saw its deficit increase to 45-25 midway through the third quarter on a putback from Sofia Corral.

Corral scored 15 points and had eight rebounds. The Chargers out rebounded the Knights 36-22.

“These past few weeks we’ve tried to emphasize working really hard and I think it really came to fruition today,” Corral said. “We really tried to emphasize pushing the ball up and not relying on the people who have been there for the longest, like me and Riley (Cwinski) and Grace Grunloh, who have been starters and on varsity for years. It’s the last year for me and Riley so we get to kind of build a legacy to get carried on. If we can instill it when we’re still there, then the program will grow even further after us.”

Cwinski led the Chargers with 19 points. She collected seven rebounds.

“I’d say our coach got us going really hard right after New Year’s,” she said. “He said we’re starting over. We were 13-2 coming in from out of break and he told us that we need to get it going. We’ve got to start playing really hard and everyone stepped up today. Our practices really showed off today. We’ve been working hard the past three days and on defense especially.”

Grunloh had 13 points and Brooklyn Moore had nine points, all coming on three-pointers, as part of Aurora Central’s balanced attack. Gina Dutkanych added seven points and five rebounds.

“The last three to four weeks we’ve been really preaching competing,” Smith said. “We’ve been telling them a lot of times we play hard but we don’t compete. There’s a difference between playing hard and competing. Playing hard is boxing out, but competing is actually getting the rebound afterwards. Playing hard is getting a deflection but competing is actually getting the loose ball afterwards.”

After practice on Monday the Knights got some bad news as freshman Grace Brunscheen broke her wrist.

Sophomore Sophia Rosati scored eight points off the bench to help compensate for Brunscheen’s absence.

“She was one who stepped up,” Claesson said. “She’s been dressing with us, but playing a lot of JV, but now it’s like you’re in the fire.”

Sam Kerry led the Knights with 17 points and Kendra Brown had 12 points and seven rebounds.