Wildcats getting job done

The Wheeling girls basketball team kept its eyes on the prize Tuesday night, defeating visiting Hersey 56-28 in Mid-Suburban East action.

The Wildcats (22-1, 7-0) have won two straight conference games since their loss to top-ranked Whitney Young last week.

And even after building a 22-5 lead in the first quarter, Wheeling coach Shelly Wiegel wouldn't let her team relent.

"Earlier in the season you might go to your bench, but now we're really trying to work that top group to get that killer instinct and attitude so that there's no letdown," Wiegel said. "We've got business to take care of, and that's what you saw tonight, us taking care of business."

Senior Ashley Wilson scored 12 of her 18 points in the first half and snared 12 rebounds. Janelle Cannon scored a game-high 21 points on 10-of-18 shooting.

"I was attacking the basket," Cannon said. "My shot wasn't going in from the outside, so I just attacked and got the layups."

Hersey (15-7, 4-3) proved it could hang with the best, being outscored only 15-13 in the second and third quarters. But the Huskies' 7 first quarter turnovers doomed their later efforts.

Sophomore Megan Rogowski hit a pair of 3-pointers and led the Huskies with 10 points.

Her older sister, senior Kelly Rogowski (9 points), scored 6 straight points to open the second half that put Hersey within 13, but it was as close as the Huskies would get.

"You need a lot more than a few good moments to keep up with Wheeling," Hersey coach Mary Fendley said. "We actually had plenty of opportunities. We just couldn't convert."