Warren captures confidence-builder over Lake Forest

Warren girls basketball coach John Stanczykiewicz knows he has his work cut out this season if his team is going to be successful.

"We lost a lot of great players that also had a lot of experience and confidence," Stanczykiewicz said. "But every game, I see our confidence growing as a team and I also see our confidence growing in each other."

Warren took a big step in finding that confidence Saturday, defeating host Lake Forest 40-33 in a North Suburban Conference Lake Division game.

It's also been a while since Stanczykiewicz hasn't had a girl on his team taller than he is.

"It's been a good five years that the team is shorter than me," he said. "But they are all good kids and they work hard and we can play a lot of kids."

Lake Forest took the lead a couple of times but couldn't sustain it.

The first time came midway through the second quarter when Megan Moore sank a 10-footer to give the Scouts a 10-9 lead. But the Blue Devils' Joree Green countered with a 3-pointer to start a 4-1 run and give her team a 16-11 lead.

In the third quarter, the Blue Devils were leading 17-11 when Jamee Jacobson popped a 3-pointer. Maggie Burke swished a jumper and Jacobson sank another 3-pointer to give the Scouts a 19-11 lead.

But Green sank two straight 3s to give the Blue Devils a 23-19 lead. They were up 29-21 at the end of the third quarter and never looked back.

"I told our girls that on two occasions, first in the first half and then in the second half, we got the right energy, made good decisions and we grabbed the lead," Lake Forest coach Nick Balaban said. "As soon as we grabbed the lead, we give it right back to them because we failed to recognize their personnel.

"In the second half, we hit a 3-pointer to take the lead and Green hit two 3s in a row because we didn't communicate."

Morgan Garrett led the Blue Devils with 13 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Green sank three 3-pointers to total 11 points. Freshman Jessica Prince added 7 points for Warren.

"The team did a great job in getting the ball to me and then Alexis (Leneau) knew I was open, and I was able to get the shots in the basket," Green said. "We are a different team in that we just can't rely on one person. We all have to be able to play more of a team game."

Maggie Moore led Lake Forest with 8 points.