St. Charles East shoots into semifinals at Wheaton N.
St. Charles East's girls basketball team has found itself in the consolation championship game at the Wheaton North Bill Neibch Tournament the past few years.
The Saints are moving to the prime time spot this season.
St. Charles East advanced to the tournament semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Friday by beating Lyons 67-58 Tuesday. The Saints can finish no worse than fourth in the 31st annual tourney which would match their best finish in 2009.
"It's been a long time since we've been in this position to still be competing for the championship," Saints coach Lori Drumtra said. "I think they know they can."
St. Charles East (11-2), the No. 5 seed, handed No. 4 seed Lyons (9-1) its first loss. The Saints will try to do the same Friday in the semifinals against No. 1 seed Glenbrook South (14-0).
You would never have guessed who the higher seed was Tuesday by watching the teams play.
The Saints scored the first five points and led for all but a brief stretch midway through the second quarter as they continued their strong tournament play this season after going a program-best 4-1 at the Schaumburg Thanksgiving tournament.
"We came in knowing they didn't have a loss and we came out strong and played our best and we did," senior point guard Katie Claussner said.
"And now they have a loss."
Claussner got the Saints going by driving for the first basket, and Kyra Washington followed with the first of her four 3-point baskets. Claussner capped the first quarter by penetrating and kicking to Washington for a 3-pointer and a 22-15 lead.
That same combination ended the third quarter the same way, a Washington 3 putting the Saints up 49-37 going to the fourth quarter. Washington led the Saints with 18 points and Claussner scored 17.
"It's very difficult to keep her (Claussner) in front of you," Lyons coach Paul Krick said. "She's crafty, she's smart."
Lyons made its best surge in the second quarter, taking its first led at 27-26 on a 3-pointer by Vicki Swift.
Chloe John came off the bench to score 8 first-half points for the Saints including a basket that helped them regain a 30-29 lead, and then a putback bucket that put the Saints ahead to stay, 32-30. Claussner scored the final 4 points of the first half for a 36-32 halftime lead.
The Saints got another big boost from a reserve in the second half. Sophomore Samantha Munroe scored 9 points including 6-of-6 shooting at the free-throw line.
She and John both finished with 9 points to help the Saints' bench outscore Lyons 18-6 in a game the Saints won by 9.
"Some of their role players stepped up for them," Krick said. "When it's an 8-, 10-point game, those shots make a difference."
The Saints won the third quarter 13-5 to take a 12-point lead to the fourth, and Lyons never got closer than 8.
"We've had good second halves so far," Drumtra said. "It's a good sign. I thought we did a better job of being patient, getting good shots."
The biggest cheer from the Saints fans might have come during a sequence in the fourth quarter when the Saints kept hustling for offensive rebounds to keep possession. Freshman Sara Rosenfeldt, who combined with Hannah Vitkus for 12 points and 15 rebounds, dove to the floor to wrestle a loose ball away from two Lyons players.
"They are a more athletic team than we are," Krick said. "I think the difference in the game was on the defensive glass. You can't beat good teams spotting them 18 offensive rebounds. Normally we're better than that but to their credit they battled."
Gabby Galassini led Lyons with 20 points and Swift added 18 points.