Smith, Syeda lead Cougar Girls past Hinsdale Central

On Tuesday night in Hinsdale South’s Brenda Whitsell Girls’ Invitational Basketball Tournament, few people could remember the last time a Plainfield South girls varsity basketball team had won its season opener.

Wonder no more – mark down Nov. 13, 2018.

Led by senior Shannon Smith and sophomore Fatima Syeda, the Cougars held off Hinsdale Central 60-48 to pick up their first season-opening win in ages.

“I just told the girls that no one can remember the last time our varsity program won its season-opening game,” Plainfield South head coach Lincoln DePaula said. “I am so proud of them.”

For three quarters, the Cougars totally dominated the girls from the storied Hinsdale Centra program, forcing 22 Central turnovers. South led 46-28, after three quarters.

Aided by sloppy ball handling, by the Cougars, the Red Devils rallied to within 56-46 with 1:16, left in the game.

It was Shannon Smith time.

Smith was mugged by a Hinsdale Central defender and calmly sank both ends,of a 1-and-1. She then stripped a Red Devil guard and was fouled with 1:07 left. Smith nailed the first of another one-and-one. Game Over.

“We haven’t had a season-opening win in a very long time,” Smith said. “I am so proud of what we all accomplished tonight. We worked the ball so well offensively and we all played great defense, as well. It is so nice to be a part of this team. I don’t believe we have ever forced 30 turnovers in a game. Another accomplishment that I am so proud of.”

Smith would finish with 19 points, haul down eight rebounds and had six steals to share game-high scoring leadership, with Syeda.

In her first varsity game, Syeda, put on a long-range artillery show, burying six three-pointers. Fatima’s sixth triple was the biggest of all. Hinsdale Central had pulled back to within 51-41 with 3:58 left, when she struck a dagger into the Red Devil comeback bid.

“My first varsity game was a great pleasure for me to play with these amazing girls,” Syeda said. “Great passes. Great teammates allowed me to have my great shooting night. We played great defense, too. A great win.”

Cougar freshman guard Gracie Harris tallied eight points, including a pair of three pointers. Harris also hauled down four rebound and added a pair of steals, before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

Six-foot freshman E’Brina Smith scored just two points in the game but rejected five Red Devil shots before fouling out. Sophomore Jasmine Divinity also fouled out with four points but had three blocked shots in the first quarter.

The Cougar defense forced 30 Hinsdale Central turnovers in the contest.

“Oh my God! 30 Hinsdale Central turnovers,” DePaula said. “We want to attack on defense. We have the girls who can apply the pressure and we were in a zone tonight. With our foul trouble and our shortage of players I had to play zone.

“We have one senior and I am glad its Shannon Smith. When things got crazy at the end who steps up, but Shannon. Fatima works so hard on her shot. She is a pure shooter but Fatima and Shannon, too, are the last one’s out of the gym everyday. [We have to] work hard this week and then face Hinsdale South on Saturday “

Plainfield North (0-1), fell in its 2018-19 season opener 76-53 at Lincoln-Way West Monday. The Tigers were led by junior Katelyn Sparlin, who scored 11 points and sophomore Beatrice Atienza, chipped inn with eight points.

Hawks fall in opener at home to Lincoln-Way East

Maine South (0-1) fell in its season-opener in Park Ridge to the state-ranked Griffins of Lincoln-Way East, 53-41 on Monday night.

Tigers fall to Rich South in 2018-2019 opener

Joliet West (0-1), dropped a hard-fought 72-65 season-opening loss to Rich South (1-0), on Monday in Joliet.