The bench was the last place Mother McAuley junior Tara O'Malley wanted to be during the second quarter of Tuesday's game against visiting Crete-Monee.

It did, however, give her a rare opportunity to watch sophomore teammate Grace Hynes do what she does best.

“It's awesome,” O'Malley said with a smile. “Right when she gets the ball, you know she's going to drive, take it in and score, or look for the open person.”

Hynes kept McAuley's boat afloat until O'Malley returned in the second half. Then they were a dynamic duo at the finish as the Mighty Macs toughed out a 55-45 victory.

Hynes had 17 points and eight rebounds, while O'Malley contributed 16 points. Lauren Ramsey added nine points for McAuley (11-5).

Shamarre Hale had 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Jahnisha Brown and Khaliah Herbert scored nine points each for Crete (8-8).

O'Malley, a 5-foot-7 guard, had already struck for a pair of 3-pointers when she committed her second foul with two minutes remaining in the first quarter.

“Yeah, I just have to be more conscious of the fouls that I'm getting,” O'Malley said. “On a lot of them I'm not really thinking in the moment. In the end, I know I shouldn't have done that.”

Hynes, a 5-9 guard/forward, is the second-leading scorer behind O'Malley. The entire second quarter she had to play for both.

“When you get in foul trouble, it's tough, especially when it's Tara because she gets us a lot of points,” Hynes said. “I just try to make a conscious effort to get to the basket or make good passes.”

With O'Malley sitting, Hynes attacked the basket three times, scoring twice on layups and making two free throws. McAuley went into the half leading 25-16.

Hynes also worked her short-range game with three baskets in the third quarter, before popping a three early in the fourth. O'Malley had a strong fourth quarter, scoring twice on running jumpers and adding four free throws.

McAuley's biggest problem was stopping Hale in the post. The 6-2 junior dominated under the basket for Crete, and got the Warriors as close as four in the fourth quarter. Brown also did well with drives from the point.

Starting guard Ceairra Smith did not play for what Crete coach Edward Ivory called “internal things.”

“Shamarre played really well,” Ivory said. “Jahnisha was holding down the point, but it's kind of hard to play her position and also guard the toughest offensive player on the other team.

“We'll be all right. The team is still trying to bond. You don't win anything in the beginning, you win in the end.”

Argo 47, St. Ignatius 44: Tadriana Heard contributed 13 points and seven rebounds — including the winning basket with five seconds remaining — to lift Argo (12-5). Carolina Tovar paced the Argonauts with 18 points.

Oak Lawn 47, Chicago Christian 35: Danielle Quigley had 16 points, and Madelyn McGrath (5 steals) added 12 to lead Oak Lawn (11-9).

Rich Central 62, Bremen 23: Miah Smith scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Rich Central (7-9).

Stagg 41, Reavis 37: Coach Bill Turner earned his 100th win as Kelsey Kelley scored 21 points for Stagg (9-7).

Chicago Christian 66, Ridgewood 56: Josh Decker and Jack Ellison scored 18 and 17 points, respectively, for Chicago Christian (9-6, 6-0 Metro Suburban East).

Illinois Lutheran 47, Heritage Christian (Ind.) 42: Caleb Mathias put in 22 points for Illinois Lutheran (4-3).

St. Francis 69, Purdue Northwest (Ind.) 66: Iain Morison's 27 points and nine rebounds led St. Francis (11-5, 5-2 CCAC South).

St. Xavier 98, Judson 60: Quinn Niego totaled 17 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in pacing St. Xavier (8-8, 5-3 CCAC North).

St. Francis 80, Purdue Northwest (Ind.) 67: Charnelle Reed contributed 17 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for St. Francis (14-0, 7-0 CCAC South).

St. Xavier 101, Judson 58: Mikayla Leyden (8 assists, 6 rebounds) scored 19 points — surpassing the 1,000 mark for her career — to lead St. Xavier (15-0, 7-0 CCAC North).

Freelance writer Josh Krockey contributed.