Electric energy followed the Naperville North Huskies girls basketball team across town to Benet Academy for their IHSA Sectional semi-final game against the Bolingbrook Raiders, but, despite a spirited effort, the team fell short of a win. 

The Naperville North Huskies (26-7, 10-0) were defeated by the Bolingbrook Raiders (24-7, 6-2) by a final score of 53-42.

The Huskies came out firing in the first quarter, with senior captain Nikki Kwilosz hitting two key three-pointers to help the team gain some momentum. But, the second quarter saw a series of turnovers by the Huskies and strong offensive rebounding by the Raiders, which put the Huskies down 31-22 going into halftime. Even with a solid defensive showing and improved offensive play led by junior Greta Kampschroeder with 20 points in the game, the Raiders maintained their lead effectively, according to senior captain Kara Rivard.

“It was just hard to get back once they had that lead ‘cause that’s what they’re known for — once they get that lead, they’re good at holding it,” Rivard said. “I thought for the most part that we left it out there.”

In spite of the result, Head Coach Erin Colletti showed a lot of pride in the team’s performance against Bolingbrook and their evolution as a team over the season. Colletti appreciates the leadership that contributed to a tight team dynamic that led them through the season. 

“The bond that these girls have created is unbelievable,” Colletti said. “I think you can really see that when they are out on the court.”

While the team would have enjoyed making a deeper run into the playoffs, captains Kwilosz and Rivard were satisfied with the effort they have put in throughout the season that led them to a Regional championship and being able to compete against Bolingbrook. 

“We watched so much film, we practiced for hours, and we’ve just been so committed this whole entire season, so I’m extremely proud of where we got,” Kwilosz said.