Girls Basketball: Glenbrook North rolls past Guerin

Updated: December 27, 2011 10:39PM

Rachel Blitt has the records memorized. In her previous two

years on the Glenbrook North varsity team her clubs have posted a 14-46

record.

So that’s why her senior season is so joyous. On Tuesday night in Arlington

Heights, Blitt and the Spartans completed a 5-0 run through the Saint Viator

29th annual Snowflake Tournament. The final game was a 61-38 romp over

Guerin Prep. Blitt was named MVP of the tournament.

“This is a nice change of pace,’’ Blitt said. “We knew coming into the

season that we had a lot of very talented players.”

If Blitt was MVP of the tourney certainly the MVP of this championship game

was senior transfer Gracie Sanchez. All the former Trinity player did in

this game was post a triple-double. That was 21 points, 13 rebounds and 10

assists.

“She’s clearly the best player I’ve coached,’’ said Glenbrook North coach

Renee Brosnan. “She’s a very good inside presence for us. She also has great

court awareness.”

The Spartans (12-4) had already beaten Guerin earlier in the tourney (67-53).

The Lady Gators stayed close to Glenbrook North entering the second quarter.

Guerin was down just 13-10 early in the second quarter after a jumper from Cara Yacobucci.

Glenbrook North had only three scorers at halftime but that threesome

outscored Guerin’s team 19-7. That was 15 points from Sanchez, nine from

Blitt and eight more from Morgan Zivin.

“This is a team game,’’ Blitt said. “The MVP is a great award but it’s a

team award. We couldn’t have asked for a better tournament.”

Guerin’s offense checked in during the third quarter. Aided by

all-tournament selection Jackie Bartnicki (11 points), the Gators reached

double-figures in scoring in the quarter. However, Guerin couldn’t slow

down the GBN offense. The Spartans had strong quarters from Erica Sogo (8

points and 8 rebounds) and Dani DeCesare.

In the fourth quarter, both teams used their bench. Guerin’s other

all-tourney selection, Kalie DiNunno, joined Bartnicki with a team-high 11

points. Sara Brodner added 8 points for the Gators. Glenbrook North’s Grace

Morrissey scored all five of her points in the game’s last four minutes.

Zivin added a three-pointer to finish with 11 points for the champions.

Saint Viator claimed the third-place game 58-45 over Maine East.

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