Unselfish Play Boosts Kit Girls Past Niles West

Eight different players scored for the Evanston girls basketball team in the first quarter of Saturday’s rematch with Niles West at Beardsley Gymnasium.

That’s just the kind of team play Coach Brittanny Johnson was hoping for, especially with so many new faces on the court for the Wildkits this winter.

Evanston’s ability to share the ball led to a second straight blowout of the Wolves, this time by a 71-19 margin, as the winners upped their record to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in Central Suburban League South division play.

The visitors mustered just one field goal and two free throws in the entire second half, one night after netting just three total baskets in the last two quarters.

Evanston countered with double figure efforts from freshman Zuri Ranson (13 points), Rashele Olantunbosun (12) and Amarii Mays (10), while Ciara Gentle added 7 points and 10 rebounds and Lola Lesmond contributed 7 points and 10 boards.

“I really liked the way we shared the basketball today,” Johnson said. “Our goal for today was 15 assists and 15 steals as a team, and I think we got there. I know it’s hard to please me --- but I was very pleased today.

“We were getting people a lot of easy baskets (with that team play) and I think a lot of them needed that confidence boost. Playing a team back-to-back like this is different, but we didn’t have to make a ton of adjustments today. I imagine that turnaround will get tougher as we get deeper into the season.”

The Wildkits broke loose for 29 points in the first period, blitzing the visitors with a 16-0 run that built the lead to 29-4 by the end of the quarter. Mays and Olantunbosun netted 6 points apiece and it was all downhill after that for the hosts, as West had more turnovers (22) than points scored for the second night in a row.

ETHS stretched the lead to 43-15 at halftime and 63-17 entering the fourth quarter, when the running clock took effect.

The Kit girls resume action on Monday at 1 p.m. at Loyola Academy.