Hoping to end an unenviable streak against Hinsdale Central, Waubonsie Valley faced the Red Devils and all-everything guard Toni Kokenis at home Tuesday.
Entering with an 0-6 record against the Devils since 2006, the Warriors were unable to contain Kokenis as she led Hinsdale Central to a 53-40 victory.
"We've faced Toni for the last three years and she's a real deal ball player," Waubonsie coach Kris Kalivas said. "You could tell that she wanted to win that game and she took the game and the ball in control in her hands."
Kokenis (game-high 27 points) scored nine of Hinsdale's 10 first quarter points on a variety of drives and a 3-pointer.
Freshman Keiera Ray, who led the Warriors with 23 points, scored three times on aggressive drives to put her team on top 11-10 after one quarter, but it was a turnover contest early. Central had eight turnovers, and Waubonsie coughed it up seven times.
Kokenis continued to shred the Warriors in the second with nine more points. With dazzling ball handling, she scored off turnovers and handed an assist to Madison Whitley. Katie Delaney nailed a 3-pointer late in the period.
Ray and Rachel Bostick continued to work for short shots against Hinsdale Central as Ray scored twice and the pair went to the line six times, but they made only three as Waubonsie trailed 27-18 at the break.
"We didn't have the help side very much when (Kokenis) drove to the basket," said the Warriors' Brittany Upshaw, who guarded Kokenis much of the time. "There was a drop for her to pass it off, but we didn't drop defensively."
Waubonsie played its best defense in the third and held the Red Devils to only six points. They came alive as Ray scored on an offensive rebound, Bostick dropped in a long 3 and Upshaw had a jumper from the lane. When Ray grabbed a rebound and raced the length of the court for a layup, the Warriors had crept to within 33-31.
Ray then tied the game early in the fourth quarter as she continued her aggressive play. But unfortunately for Waubonsie, Kokenis took that as her cue. She found Adabelle Ekechukwu twice for easy layups and made free throws after dribbling full court through the Warriors. Delaney scored from the lane, and the 8-0 burst showed Waubonsie down 41-33.
"We switched up our defenses to try to confuse them, and Toni was somebody we had to contain," Ray said. "If we didn't contain her past the backcourt, then she was going coast to coast. We didn't do that enough."
Although Ray scored on another steal and Kiki McClellan had a 3-pointer, Hinsdale Central made eight of eight foul shots in the last minute to continue to widen the margin.
"We played a poor first half and put ourselves in a hole, but in the second half we played much more confidently," Kalivas said. "We tied the game but then had defensive breakdowns. We put ourselves in a position to win, but against a club like that, you just can't have those lapses."
Waubonsie fell to 12-3 while the Red Devils improved to 16-0.
Warriors fans can look forward to another possible matchup as the teams will be in the same sectional.
Another chance to break the streak, but with the stakes raised considerably. Hinsdale Central 53, Waubonsie Valley 40
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