Girls Basketball: Bloom making some big Gaines

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Updated: February 11, 2012 8:12AM

Bria Gaines didn’t just lead Bloom in a 50-21 win Thursday over Kankakee, she dominated with 26 points and 18 rebounds.

The 6-foot-2 junior center has seen a dramatic increase in statistics from her sophomore season, when she averaged 12 points and 9 rebounds per game. Going into the week, Gaines is averaging 25 points and 15 rebounds per contest.

“Playing for me last summer with the Wolverines was a big help for her,” Blazing Trojans coach Ron Newquist said. “She had to play against tough post payers week in and week out. Plus, we did a lot of individual work over the summer, too. Work with the heavy ball a lot, work with her footwork, things that she really wasn’t good at doing.

“The difference this year is that she is positioning so well to get the ball. She knows how to read a defense, and is really just coming into her own. The head coach from Illinois State (Stephanie Glance) came and watched her the other night. She was like, ‘Wow, this kid has a tremendous upside.’ “She’s going to be really good, but she needs to continue to get stronger.”

Still competitive

Andrew is 9-5 and the newest member of the Top 10 after a 38-36 victory Thursday over then-No. 7 Lincoln-Way North. The Thunderbolts are thriving despite the loss of sophomore Molly Franson, who as a freshman led them in several different categories. Franson is recovering from knee surgery after a summer injury.

“On the first day of practice we acknowledged that we would miss her greatly, but that we couldn’t constantly think ‘If we had Molly this would be different,’ ” coach Bobby Matz said. “After dealing with the initial shock, the girls have done wonderfully at adapting.”

Tiana Karopulos leads the Thunderbolts at 14.6 points per game, while Nicole Botich (13.3 ppg, 10.9 rpg) and Liz Jendra (7 ppg, 2.4 apg) also have stepped up.

She’s not alone

Chaz Duson isn’t the only Rich Central player capable of a double-double. In the Olympians’ 78-60 win Thursday over Rich East, center Jessica Warren totaled 13 points and 13 rebounds as No. 4 Central improved to 16-4.

“Jessica’s presence in the paint is crucial and has helped us,” Olympians coach Bryan Craig said. “Her attitude is amazing. I can yell at her one time, and instead of folding or ‘shying up’ she challenges herself.”