Oak Park-River Forest suffers through two defeats

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Updated: March 3, 2012 8:39AM

A poor-shooting Friday night turned into a poor shooting weekend when the Oak Park River Forest girls basketball team traveled to Evanston on Saturday.

A day after losing 45-36 to Downers Grove North, the young Huskies (10-17, 4-6) got off to a rough start Saturday, missing their first 11 shots from the field and trailing 20-2 after one quarter.

It did get better for the visitors after that, but OPRF had dug itself too big a hole and fell 55-39 to the Wildkits (13-10).

“We just couldn’t hit any shots. We had real struggles offensively this whole weekend. Free throws, as well. We really struggled,” OPRF head coach Bob Biggins said after Saturday’s contest.

Oak Park likely will take some satisfaction from the fact that it outscored the Wildkits 37-35 during the last three quarters of the game. Also, Evanston’s Whitney Young- transfer Sinclair Cunningham was held to just 10 total points after scoring seven in the first quarter.

“Defensively, we played pretty well, particularly in the second half,” Biggins said. “A 20-2 hole is tough to get out of, and we never quite got over the hump. We played them even (after the first), actually better than that. So, that’s what you have to take out of it.”

Oak Park did threaten to make a game of it in the third, getting to within 13 points on three occasions. But every time the Huskies got to within striking distance, Evanston answered, usually with a hoop by 6-foot-2 junior center Alecia Cooley, who finished with 16 points and 16 rebounds.

“Evanston’s height is incredible. They are good,” Biggins said. “They knew what they had to do, it was their Senior Night and they did it. You have to give them credit. They are a good team, and they beat us. But I’m happy with the way we came back in the second half.”

Junior guard Caroline Kelty led Oak Park with 12 points. Her backcourt mate, junior Maeve Connelly had 10. Junior Cuyla Hall also came off the bench to score 10 points for OPRF.

“Cuyla Hall had a nice game. She was aggressive,” Biggins said. “She’s had a couple of good games lately where she’s a little more aggressive offensively. She’s coming along. I’m happy with how she’s playing lately.”

Recap: A day earlier, senior guard Stekara Hall led OPRF with 21 points, but it wasn’t enough for the Huskies to pull out a Senior Night-victory over the Trojans.

Downers North led just 31-29 after three quarters before outscoring the Huskies 14-7 in the final frame.

“We couldn’t hit anything. We had so many shots not go in. We really struggled and Downers played well,” Biggins said.

Before the game, a ceremony was held on the court to honor Biggins, who will be retiring from coaching after this season. He has spent 15 years coaching different levels of basketball at OPRF.

Seeding: Oak Park learned this week it would be the No. 10 seed in the Lyons Sectional in the upcoming IHSA Class 4A State Tournament. The Huskies are scheduled to open Trinity Regional play on Feb. 14 against No. 8 Bogan. The winner most likely will meet No. 2 Trinity for the regional title on Feb. 16.

Up Next: After hosting Proviso West Tuesday, the Huskies will travel to Hinsdale Central at 6 p.m. Friday.