Fasanella, Sanders lead Dundee-Crown past Larkin

After matching 0-5 starts to the season, the girls basketball teams from Dundee-Crown and Larkin were each looking for their first win Tuesday night when they squared off in nonconference action in Elgin.

The visiting Chargers went home smiling, while the host Royals were left still looking for answers.

Senior Megan Fasanella scored 13 points and had 6 steals, and sophomore Ali Sanders scored 10 points and had 3 assists as Dundee-Crown registered a 49-21 victory.

"We needed that," said D-C coach Michelle Russell. "We needed a confidence boost like that to lift our spirits."

The Chargers came out the aggressor, grabbing a 12-4 lead after one quarter and forcing the Royals into 16 of their 51 turnovers. By halftime the Chargers led 32-7. They shot 9 of 17 in the first half, while Larkin was just 2-for-14. Dundee-Crown closed out the first half with a 20-0 run.

"If we could score some points we might be able to compete," lamented first-year Larkin coach Alphonso Lott. "We have some kids we're still working with who we've added to the program that we think will help us by Christmas-time. They're just learning how to play basketball. Right now they want to stand around and not execute and that's the discipline part."

To Larkin's credit, the Royals played a much better second half, being outscored just 17-14. But they continued to turn the ball over and they struggled shooting, making just 8 of 34 for the game.

And while Dundee-Crown cooled off, shooting just 4-for-21 in the second half, Fasanella scored 7 of her points and the Chargers got contributions from virtually everyone on the roster. A total of 11 Dundee-Crown players scored in the game.

"Megan had a nice game and so did Ali Sanders," Russell said. "We need that kind of game from Megan every night. We lost nine girls from last year's team, so this is a new team that's just starting to learn each other and understand each other.

"We've pumped up the intensity in practice and we hope by Christmas they've got it together."

The battle of the boards was nearly even, with Dundee-Crown outrebounding the Royals 31-30.

Sophomore Taitiana Holbert led Larkin, which plays at crosstown rival Elgin on Thursday night, with 8 points and 7 rebounds. Junior Corinne Wimmer played a steady floor game, scoring 5 points and nabbing 4 steals.