A layup by Buffalo Grove senior forward Alyssa Mills with 34 seconds left in the fourth quarter — after a steal by sophomore guard Julie Jambrone — brought the Bison girls basketball team within two points at 34-32 against host Elk Grove Friday night, but the Grenadiers held on for a 35-32 win.
Missed shots were the norm on both sides of the court, as the low-scoring Mid-Suburban East tilt saw Buffalo Grove (2-5) jump out to a 9-2 lead after one quarter. The Grens opened the second quarter with a 11-0 run to nab a two-point advantage, and Elk Grove (5-2) took a 18-15 edge into the break.
“We came out really sluggish in the first quarter, and then we decided to play,” Elk Grove coach Kathie Swanson said. “We got energy and turned things around. It was pretty much a team effort — on offense and defense.”
Elk Grove’s biggest lead in the tight battle was six points, at 34-28 with 1:39 to play. Preceding Mills’ bucket, Buffalo Grove senior forward Bailey North made it 34-30 on a drive to the basket.
“We’re a young team, and the girls played hard, so I’m not disappointed,” Buffalo Grove coach Steve Kolodziej said. “We’re learning, and the bare minimum is the effort, and I’m absolutely pleased with that.”