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Joliet Central’s Bernasia Fox can remember some good halves she has strung together, but nothing quite like Thursday.

The senior guard scored 21 of her 24 points in the first half as Joliet Central cruised to a 58-35 nonconference win at Plainfield South.

Going from a role player last season to a team leader this season, Fox is ready for the spotlight.

“This is the only game I can think of quite like this,” Fox said. “My teammates helped me though, and I couldn’t have done it without them. I was prepared for a bigger role, and I’m trying to bring it all this year.”

Fox added seven steals and four assists for Joliet Central (2-4) and Chavon Banks contributed 12 points and eight rebounds.

Playing the point early, it wasn’t scoring Fox was interested in. The senior dished out assists on Central’s first three baskets before even attempting a shot. Off an inbounds play, Fox drilled a 3-pointer from the wing as the Steelwomen went up 10-0 early.

After scoring nine points in the first quarter, Fox topped even her own effort with 12 more points in the second. Following a Banks score on an offensive rebound, Fox rattled off 10 straight points that gave Central a 35-13 halftime advantage.

The Central defense forced 10 second quarter turnovers while limiting South to just four points.

“We’re just trying to attack teams that struggle handling the ball,” Fox said. “Any of us up top, we try to push them to one side and trap them, get some easy steals.”

Plainfield South committed 15 first half turnovers.

“It’s a good win to build on against a scrappy Plainfield South team,” Joliet Central coach Brian Reed said. “We’re a little inexperienced ourselves so it will be ugly for a little while.”

Leslie Hamilton scored nine points for Plainfield South (1-4) with Emily Bell and Alexandria Tarrant scoring six apiece.