Maher provides Hawks with double threat

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Maine South's Michelle Maher (41) fights for a rebound with New Trier's Meg Rosinski (10) on Jan. 13, 2012, in Park Ridge. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media

Updated: February 20, 2012 9:01AM

Michelle Maher is one of the most valuable players in the CSL South, probably the area, maybe even in the state.

The Maine South senior does so much for the Hawks in any given game that playing without her could seem like the team is losing at least two players.

In Friday’s 63-43 win over New Trier, Maher scored a team-best 15 points and guarded Northwestern recruit Maggie Lyon for most of the night.

This week, Maher will be tasked with providing similar offense while defending Evanston’s Sinclair Cunningham, a 6-foot-1 guard.

“We’ve been blessed to have a defender like Maher,” said Maine South coach Mark Smith, whose club has won 13 in a row and stands 20-1 overall and 5-1 in the CSL South. “She can play the perimeter, and she’s tough enough to battle inside.

“Maher’s a player who scores, defends the other team’s best player and must handle the ball against intense pressure. She’s a unique basketball player.”

Maher got the No. 8-ranked Hawks going in the right direction against the Trevians by scoring eight points in the first quarter. Maine South led 10-0 in the first two minutes and by as many as 15 in the quarter. The Hawks never let the Trevians catch up.

“When we played at their place, we were not aggressive enough,” said Maher of the team’s 55-44 loss to the Trevians on Dec. 2. “We came out aggressive (Friday), and we won the game in the first quarter.”

Maher got no argument from New Trier coach Teri Rodgers. 

“It was a big hole, and it gave them confidence,” she said. “It was hard to fight our way back.”

Smith said Maine South seems to follow the same pattern every season, which is to lose to New Trier on the road and beat the Trevians at home. The coach even showed highlights before Friday’s game from Maine South’s home win from the 2006-07 season.

“That was one of the best first quarters in Maine South history,” he said of the 25-point first quarter. “Then wouldn’t you know? We go out and score 24 points that night. They came out of the gate and almost duplicated that other game.”

Maine South did a good job of preventing New Trier from stringing points together. The Trevians scored consecutive baskets just three times through three quarters.

After Maher’s basket to start the second half, New Trier never got closer than 13 in the final two quarters. 

Maine South’s 20-point win was the team’s 13th by at least 20 points this season. The Hawks beat Evanston 46-23 on Dec. 6, but Smith expects a different team this time around.

“That’s going to be a doozy of a game,” said Smith, whose team is tied with Niles West for the league lead. “They’re healthy now, and they’ve started to figure things out. They are playing with a lot of confidence, and we are not taking them lightly.”

Maine South plays at Marian on Saturday as part of the Sweet 16 tournament.