NSCD Girls Win Three of Four

Photo: Senior leader Annie Kroll, #5, Winnetka, led the team with 13 assists on Friday and carried the team with her leadership on Saturday afternoon.

Submitted by North Shore Country Day School

The North Shore Girls’ Varsity Basketball team is on a bit of a roll, having won four of their last five games, including three of four last week, to run their record to 8-6, establishing good momentum going into Tuesday’s game at Willows Academy, where a win would secure a 3rd place ISL finish.

North Shore vs. Elgin Academy, January 20, (W) 47-10

North Shore at Lake Forest Academy, January 21, (L) 18-47

North Shore vs. Providence-St. Mel High School, January 23, (W) 54-37

North Shore vs. Universal High School, January 24, (W) 39-34

“We played good team basketball all week and are greatly improved from even two weeks ago,” said Head Coach Dana Leonard. “Friday night was probably the best game we’ve played in my three years here. We shot almost 50 percent, played good defense and passed the ball extremely well.”

Leonard singled out senior leader #5 Annie Kroll ’15, Winnetka, for her week-long effort. “Annie had 13 assists on Friday and really carried us with her leadership on

Saturday afternoon when the team was a little sluggish. All week long she rebounded, passed, played her best defense ever and scored when she needed to.”

The Raiders’ three-year scoring leader just recently returned from a six-week layoff due to a strained ACL. Sophomore wing #31 Grace Atia ’17, Kenilworth, led the team’s scoring with 38 points Friday and Saturday as the Raiders convincingly beat two teams they lost to last year.

“I was really impressed with how well the girls stuck together and bounced back from Wednesday’s lopsided loss to Lake Forest Academy,” said Leonard. That is a team of big-time athletes including one girl who will be recruited by major DI colleges. No doubt it helped prepare us for the rest of the schedule.”

The team’s next game is Tuesday, 6 p.m., at Willows. On Thursday, the Raiders travel to Ida Crown for a 7 p.m. game. The Raiders will be missing sophomore point guard and defensive standout #13 Lauren Kaplinsky ’17, Highland Park, who suffered a sprained ankle in Friday’s win, and senior starting center #23 Claire McCarthy ’15, Winnetka, who sustained a knee injury that is still being evaluated.

The IHSA has notified North Shore that they will again host a Class 2A regional the week of February 16. Opponents will be Chicago Math & Science, Chicago Rickover Academy, Woodlands Academy of Lake Forest and Cristo Rey St. Martin of Waukegan.

The next four games will determine whether they can clinch a #1 seed.