Girls Basketball: Evanston survives Senior Night festivities, tops OPRF

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Evanston sophomore Seara Clayborn does up for a basket against Maine South freshman Nina Duric during a varsity girls basketball game at Evanston Township High School on Friday, Jan. 20, 2012. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Updated: March 3, 2012 8:20AM

In describing his team’s arrangements for Saturday’s Senior Night game, Evanston girls basketball coach Elliot Whitefield revealed that his players had been decorating — and eating — all day as they prepared for the evening’s festivities.

Such a statement may have revealed frustration — if the Wildkits had lost the game to Oak Park-River Forest. Instead, Whitefield allowed a little chuckle, because his team cruised to a 55-39 win.

The Wildkits (13-10) altered their starting lineup to include five seniors. And they stormed out of the gate, helping Evanston build a 20-2 lead after one quarter.

After that, OPRF actually threatened to get back into the game in the third quarter, cutting Evanston’s lead to 13 points on a few occasions. But Evanston junior Alecia Cooley (15 points, 18 rebounds off the bench) made sure the Wildkits remained comfortably ahead.

Perhaps, the team’s unusual rotation, the comfort of a big lead, and what Whitefield described as, “party overload” all contributed to some lackluster play by the Wildkits over the final three quarters.

“It was a different night,” Whitefield said. “(Some of) our seniors don’t get a lot of minutes. But they started and did a nice job. But it was a little out of sync with the substitutions. There were some good moments, then a lot of turnovers. The kids played hard — they played well — but they also missed some shots. Defensively, I thought we were a little lazy.”

That certainly wasn’t the case early on, as Evanston held the Huskies (10-17) to 0-for-11 shooting in the first quarter.

Evanston senior Sinclair Cunningham scored seven of her 12 points in the first frame.

Cooley had just one point in the first quarter, but dominated after that.

“Cooley has been our most stable player,” Whitefield said. “She’s consistent, averaging a double-double. She’s had some huge games for us this season. She’s doing really well.”

Nine Wildkits reached the scoresheet, including junior Gabrielle Nottage, who scored eight points. Junior Erin Boothe added six points, and seniors Randi Mangrum and Brittany King scored four apiece.

“I thought Erin Boothe played well in the second half, got her hands on the ball a lot, went to the basket, hit her free throws,” Whitefield said. “Brittany King did a nice job starting the game. She has some offensive skills and a nice touch. (Junior) Rashana Nix made some nice defensive plays, getting in the passing lanes when we were pressing. It’s great when everybody can contribute.”

Evanston was playing without usual starter Sierra Clayborn, who sat out after receiving five stitches during the previous night’s game against Waukegan.

In Evanston’s 50-34 win over Waukegan on Friday, Cooley had 15 points and 10 rebounds. The Wildkits improved to 4-4 in the CSL South with the victory.

Evanston earned the No. 6 seed in the New Trier Sectional, and will open play in its own regional against No. 12 Von Steuben on Feb. 14. The winner will face either No. 4 Loyola Academy or No. 13 Maine East for the regional championship on Feb. 17.

Evanston visits CSL South-leader Niles West at 7:30 p.m. Friday.