Just minutes after celebrating Naperville Central’s most memorable win in recent history, senior guard Trinity Jones got some unexpected news.
The 6-foot-2 Clemson commit had scored 43 points against defending Class 4A state champion Kenwood to break the Redhawks’ single-game record held by former WNBA star Candace Parker. The look on Jones’ face said it all — surprise mixed with elation.
So which was better, the win or the record?
“Honestly, I would just say winning the game,” Jones said. “All the accolades, that matters, but it really doesn’t. The biggest thing is we came back, and we won together as a team.”
Jones had no idea she was nearing Parker’s record of 42 points as she rallied the Redhawks to an improbable 72-71 victory on the opening night of the Naperville Central Tip-Off Tournament.
The Broncos used a 12-2 run to erase a 62-55 deficit at the start of the fourth quarter and led 71-70 with 28 seconds left.
Naperville Central’s Trinity Jones, right, goes for a layup against Kenwood during a Naperville Central Tip-Off Tournament game in Naperville on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Jon Cunningham / Naperville Sun)
But Jones, who scored the final 12 points for the Redhawks (2-0) and 25 of their 30 in the second half, caught a pass from junior center Annabelle Kritzer and was fouled with 8.4 seconds left. Jones sank both free throws.
“The two free throws at the end were huge, just huge,” Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum said. “I thought she was absolutely outstanding. I’ve run out of words.”
Jones and the Redhawks then made sure the clock ran out on the Broncos (1-1), who were unable to get off a shot before time expired.
“We just talked and rotated, and we made sure we got out there,” Jones said. “We knew if we wanted to win, we had to play together, obviously.
“So each time we got in the huddle, each time there was a timeout called, we just talked, and we made some adjustments. Our biggest thing was we had to talk and play together the whole game, start to finish.”
That the Redhawks did. Jones made 17 of 26 shots and all seven of her free-throw attempts to go with nine rebounds, four steals and two assists, but she had plenty of help.
Kritzer scored eight early points and finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds, and senior guard Erin Hackett added 14 points, three assists and two steals. Senior guard Colette McInerney didn’t score but contributed five assists, four steals and four rebounds.
“It was a great game just to play in and be a part of,” Kritzer said. “I’ve never played with someone like Trinity before, but I’ve loved it so far. It’s fun to be on the court with her, and I think she’s done a really good job.”
Naperville Central’s Annabelle Kritzer, left, comes down with a rebound against Kenwood during a Naperville Central Tip-Off Tournament game in Naperville on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Jon Cunningham / Naperville Sun)
Indeed, Jones is averaging 36.5 points through two games.
“I think I did good,” she said. “My defense needs some improvement as well as I’m a little bit out of shape, but that will come. I think I’ll be all right.”
Nussbaum called the victory the Redhawks’ most memorable since their triple-overtime win over Naperville North in a regional final in 2018. But he tempered that by noting it is just one in a series of early season games against tough opponents that also include Homewood-Flossmoor, Benet, Phillips and Butler.
“We said Kenwood won the state championship last year, but they didn’t win our tournament,” Nussbaum said. “This is really nice. We wanted to win bad, we’re happy to win, but there’s still a lot of work to be done.
“It’s a November game, not a February game, and the real goal is February.”
Jones echoed those sentiments when asked if beating Kenwood gives the Redhawks a confidence boost.
“No boost,” she said. “I know in practice we’re going to work on things that we didn’t do well, and we’re going to come back and compete. We’re warming up.”
Naperville Central’s Trinity Jones, center, passes the ball as Kenwood double-teams her during a Naperville Central Tip-Off Tournament game in Naperville on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Jon Cunningham / Naperville Sun)
Kritzer’s connection with Jones, who missed last season with a torn ACL, is just getting warmed up.
“As the season goes on, it will have to get better, but I think so far we’re doing pretty well,” Kritzer said. “I know sometimes they double- or triple-team her, and she’s able to recognize that and be able to pass it to the open person.
“I know that happened tonight. I got some wide-open layups from Trinity.”
And Jones still broke the record.
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
