Wauconda's growing win streak reaches four

About a month after Wauconda's girls basketball program welcomed Ty Dennis into the world, the Bulldogs experienced another birth.

Interim head coach Greg Dorgan named athletic sophomore Allie Tylka his point guard. A varsity player as a freshman, the 6-foot Tylka just might stay at the point for a while, especially if the Bulldogs keep winning.

"I played it when I was in fifth grade, but that's about it," Tylka said.

Tyke Ty and Tylka. It's a youth movement at Wauconda, for sure.

And, yes, there was reason for the Bulldogs to smile Friday night - and not just because they earned their 10th win of the season by capturing a 39-21 decision over visiting Round Lake in Northern Lake County Conference action.

While 2-month-old Ty was cradled tightly all night by his mom, Wauconda head coach Jaime Dennis, who was attending her first home game since giving birth to her second child, the Bulldogs jumped out to an 8-0 lead and were never threatened. Tylka and senior center Katie Rossetti (9 rebounds) each scored 10 points, as Wauconda (10-7, 2-3) stretched its winning streak to a season-best four games.

Wauconda and Round Lake (2-12, 1-4) played each other in Wauconda's Thanksgiving tournament, with the hosts pulling out a 47-41 win.

"Tonight was a good opportunity for us to show growth," said Dorgan, who got scoring from nine players. "The girls recognized that."

Tylka has played in all 17 of Wauconda's games and is averaging a team-best 13.6 points. Rossetti (11.3 ppg) is also averaging double digits.

Tylka was starting on the wing before Dorgan moved her to point guard in early December.

"We count on her to score," Dorgan said. "We moved her to the point-guard position, which is definitely out of her comfort zone, but she hasn't balked at it at all. She's been all in and learning on the fly."

Tylka's baseline shot had Wauconda up 8-0 with 4:55 left in the opening quarter, before a layup by Hannah Brooks (4 points, 7 rebounds) got Round Lake on the board.

Tylka sank her team's only 3-pointer, which extended the Bulldogs' lead to 20-6 early in the second half.

She's a more confident player this winter.

"Probably driving to the basket and being more aggressive," Tylka said when asked where she's made her biggest strides since her freshman campaign. "I was really timid last year. I was more of an outside shooter last year."

Round Lake's Griselda Martinez showed off a confident shooting stroke in the fourth quarter. The junior guard sank three 3-pointers coming off the bench and finished as the Panthers' leading scorer with 9 points.