GURNEE, Ill.– With a 7:00 p.m. tip off in primetime, the Lake Forest Scouts (19-8, 8-3) girls basketball team was ready to go toe-to-toe with the NSC’s best in hopes of earning a tie of the conference lead with their opponent, the Warren Blue Devils.

The Scouts and Blue Devils played a close first half, with Warren leading by three points at both the end of the first quarter and at halftime. In a slow, methodical third quarter, the Scouts held the Blue Devils to just four points–to bring them back to within two–when a Warren player hit a shot at the buzzer to extend their lead to five. In the fourth, the Blue Devils capitalized on free throw opportunities and earned a 16-11 advantage in the final frame, ultimately earning the Blue Devils the 40-30 victory.

The Scouts were led in scoring by sophomore Halle Douglass, who tallied 13 points on 13 shots, including 6-8 from the free throw line. Grace Tirzmalis added 12 for the Scouts on just seven shots and converted all six of her free throw attempts. Ultimately, scoring proved to be difficult for the Scouts. Seniors Audrey Kaus and Olivia Douglass, who both have been key contributors on offense at times this season, each wound up scoreless while emerging junior post Ellie Pearson finished with just 1 point and without a made field goal.

From here, the Scouts take on Libertyville on the road on Wednesday and then travel to Lake Zurich on Friday. They close the season at home with a slated game against the Zion-Benton Zee-Bees.