Triplett leads Lakes to another win

A large number of Lakes' girls basketball fans negotiated snowy, open roads to travel to Woodstock North on Wednesday and watch their team.

Mind you, before this season, the Eagles heard few cheers. They counted 2 wins in four years as a varsity program.

"Two days before Christmas and look how many parents we have here," first-year Eagles coach Pete Schneider said looking at the bleachers. "An hour (drive) from home. It's like, 'Wow.' "

Lakes pulled away from Harvard to win 44-29, completing the Northern Illinois Holiday Classic with back-to-back wins.

Wow.

Actually, it's the Eagles' second two-game winning streak of the season.

Double wow.

"It's awesome," senior center Asja Triplett, who posted game bests of 14 points and 14 rebounds, said with a wide smile. "I love playing with my team. We've bonded well and it's just getting better and better as we go. Thanks to our coach, too."

Lakes is 4-9 under Schneider, the program's third coach in five years. While no one, including Schneider, is ready to anoint the Eagles as a top-level team, it's clear they're on the road to respectability.

Opponents are beginning to respect them, and so are people in the high school.

"It's phenomenal," Schneider said. "They're the toast of the school right now. It's a proud thing to be members of the program now."

Added Triplett, who attended St. Martin de Porres in Waukegan as a freshman and sophomore: "A lot of people respect us now and they're here to cheer us on more. It's good to have (support) from people who really didn't believe in us at first."

Triplett flashed potential as a junior and her improvement has mirrored that of her team. She says she loves rebounding and she's been a force most nights on the boards.

"I like that Asja Triplett has started to become a basketball player," Schneider said. "She's been getting under control, she's been shooting the ball a little bit, and she's been starting to make good decisions."

Schneider also lauds the leadership of Ashley Parmly and Antioch-transfer Jen Totten. Parmly scored 9 points against Harvard, while fellow junior Mary Doupis added seven.

Schneider promoted Evan Morris, Ashley Cunningham and Sarah Berry for the tournament, and each contributed. The three players have helped the sophomore team put together a successful season. Morris sank the go-ahead shot against Round Lake on Tuesday night and sank two more shots against Harvard.

"They gave us a little boast," Schneider said. "They give us some athleticism."

Parmly scored 6 points in the second quarter against Harvard, as Lakes built a 23-15 advantage by halftime. The Eagles kept up their hustle in the second half.

"Slowly, the fundamentals are getting there," Schneider said. "We're not throwing the ball away. We're not turning the ball over a thousand times. The heart and intensity are there."

And, finally, so are some wins.