Lalos shoots Saints to win over Streamwood

Whether she was draining 3-point baskets or finishing off fast breaks with layups, Tasha Lalos definitely was on her game from the opening tip.

Lalos, a 5-foot-7 junior guard, connected on her first 7 shots from the field -- 6 of them coming in the first quarter -- when St. Charles East grabbed an 18-5 lead over visiting Streamwood.

She finished with a season-high 23 points while leading the Saints (6-4, 3-0) to a 52-41 Upstate Eight Conference girls basketball triumph over the Sabres (1-9, 0-3).

"I don't know -- I just had the openings," said Lalos, trying to describe her early shooting tear that included a pair of 3-pointers and 14 first-period points.

"I was wide open. They (the Sabres) weren't rotating over to find me or really anybody in the first quarter. And I like the 3-point line. I feel comfortable there."

Thanks to some nifty passes from Lexi Baltes (7 points, 4 assists), Jaime Rust (7 rebounds, 3 assists) and Lalos (8 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists), the Saints turned a 4-3 lead into a comfortable 13-point advantage heading into the second quarter.

"Our team was the story in the first quarter," said Saints coach Lori Drumtra, whose team extended its winning streak to five. "I was happy with the way we pushed it down the floor and the way we played defense."

After falling behind by as many as 18 points late in the first half, the Sabres actually outscored St. Charles East 36-34 during the final 24 minutes -- pulling within 7 at 47-40 in the final 2 minutes.

But the damage was already done.

"The first quarter was the difference today," said Sabres coach George Rosner. "We came out and let No. 24 (Lalos) get loose and wild. We knew what we had to do on her, but we didn't do it.

"She took advantage of us and had a great first half."

Krissy Kunavich led the Sabres with 13 points and 8 rebounds, while Emma Schmidt added 9 points.

"We played much better in the second half," said Rosner. "It was a great effort."

Rosner also took solace with the return of senior point guard Ryanne Mark, who scored 2 points in a reserve role.

"It was Ryanne's first game back since her injury (high ankle sprain suffered in the first quarter of the Sabres' first game)," said Rosner. "She gave us a lift today."

Shannon Kennedy came off the bench to score 7 points for the Saints, who committed 19 of their 23 turnovers during the final 24 minutes.

"I think they walked off the court -- for a win -- with not that great of a feeling," said Drumtra. "We've got to eliminate some of the mistakes that we're making."