The Glenbard West girls’ basketball team has started off the season with a bang, currently at 5-0 including winning three games to take the Rachel Bach District 87 Tournament title. Not only the varsity team won, but the Hilltoppers had a sweep with the freshmen and JV team taking the title as well.

Glenbard West 45, Glenbard South 40

The Glenbard West girls basketball team faced Glenbard South on Nov. 18, taking a tight 45-40 win in the first game of the Rachel Bach D87 Tournament.

In the first quarter the game was tied 4-4 when Lauren Escalante cut in front of a pass for Glenbard West for a steal and a layup for a score putting the Hilltoppers up by two. The game was tied 9-9 at the beginning of the second quarter, but Yeager drained a three from the top of the key to put the Hilltoppers up 12-9. Hannah Roberts came in for a block on a three point attempt with 6:55 on the clock. Glenbard West had a 14-13 lead with 3:30 left in the half, when Lauren Escalante swooped in for a steal. With 2:42 left in the second quarter, Austin put the Hilltoppers up 17-13 on a three. 

At the beginning of the third quarter, Yeager hit her second three of the game, giving the Hilltoppers a 28-23 lead. With about 2:10 left in the third, Benjamin put Glenbard West up 33-27 on a three pointer of her own. Yeager took a fast break and pulled up for a jumper to go up 35-27 with 1:15 left in the third quarter. As time was expiring in the third quarter, Yeager nailed another shot from downtown to put the Hilltoppers up 38-29. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Austin was wide open in the corner for a three and put the Hilltoppers up 41-33.

Yeager led the charge with three makes from downtown for the Hilltoppers. Austin had two three pointers in the win. Benjamin and Noble each had three steals.

Glenbard West had a 41-40 rebounding advantage, led 8-6 in assists, 14-8 in steals and 2-1 in blocks. Glenbard South led in shooting at 31% to 25% but the Hilltoppers had a 29% to 7% advantage in threes.

Glenbard West 43, Glenbard East 33

Glenbard West won their fourth straight game to start the season, this time against rival Glenbard East 43-33 for their second win of the Rachel Bach D87 Tournament.

The Hilltoppers jumped out to a five point lead on a three by Yeager with six minutes left in the opening quarter. Glenbard East was trying to make a play under the basket when Austin had a sweet rejection. This was followed by a steal by Escalante, and then moments later another steal under the basket where she was able to lay it in to go up 7-3.

The Hilltoppers went up 11-5 in the first quarter and they continued to have the upper hand in the second quarter. With a 15-7 lead, Sydney Nimsakont made it an 11 point game on a three from the top of the key. They took a 22-12 lead at halftime. 

Glenbard East woke up in the third quarter and cut the lead to seven by outscoring the Hilltoppers 14-11. Austin had a blocked shot in the third. By the fourth quarter, the Glenbard West lead was cut to three at a 33-30 game, but Yeager nailed a three to go up by six with 6:20 on the clock. Glenbard West finished strong with a 10-7 advantage, highlighted by strong defense by Escalante, who had a steal in the quarter. The Hilltoppers walked away with the 10 point victory.

Glenbard West’s defense was superior, allowing only a 23% shooting percentage including 14% from three. They had 17 steals and two blocks in the game. Glenbard East out-rebounded the Hilltoppers 38-28 and each team had five assists. The Hilltoppers struggled from three at 17% and made 30% of their field goals.

Glenbard West 41, Glenbard North 21

The Hilltoppers faced off against Glenbard North in the finals on Nov. 22 and made easy work of the Panthers with a 41-21 win.

Benjamin got the scoring going with a deep three pointer less than a minute into the game to go up 3-0. They added a basket and then Nimsakont showed excellent defense near the rim with a block. Up 5-0, #12 stole an inbound pass and sent a sweet dime to May Aduci on a fast break, who laid it in for a score going up 7-0. The defense and offense was on point, and Escalante had a steal that led to her pulling up for a jumper near the free throw line to make it 9-0. The incredible scoring run continued with Austin draining a corner three. Glenbard North scored a bucket, but Benjamin hit a three to go up 15-2 with about two minutes left in the first quarter.

The second quarter was much more low scoring, and Yeager’s two blocks were the highlight, with the Hilltoppers taking a 23-9 lead into the locker room at half.

It was a 24-13 game in the third quarter when Austin hit a three to put increase the deficit to 15 points with 6:15 left. They continued to extend their lead with Benjamin putting the score at 33-13 on a fast break layup. She made it 36-14 when she hit a three. The Hilltoppers were able to cruise the rest of the way to victory and take the trophy capping off an excellent string of basketball going into the Thanksgiving break.

Defense was the name of the game again, as the Hilltoppers had 15 steals and three blocks, while allowing only 18% from the field and from three. They shot 28% and 20% from downtown. The Hilltoppers also led 34-33 in rebounds and 11-4 in assists.

Yeager was named the All-Tournament MVP, while Benjamin and Escalante were named to the All-Tournament team.

The JV team beat Glenbard South 62-23 and the freshmen won 64-4 over Glenbard East to also take the title.