Monroe, West Chicago top East Aurora
Sophomore guard Claire Monroe's super third quarter set West Chicago on the path to victory Monday at the Oswego East Winter Classic Basketball Tournament.
Monroe scored all of her game-high 13 points to spark an impressive Wildcats second-half run, which led to a 46-36 win over East Aurora.
The Wildcats defense shared top billing with the 5-foot-3 point guard, holding the Tomcats (4-9) to just one basket, a 3-pointer and 13 points in the entire second half.
The win puts West Chicago in Tuesday's semifinals at 6:30 pm.
"In the first half we were letting them get inside and our shots weren't dropping," Monroe said. "We were being rushed by their pressure and their physical play. At halftime we talked about relaxing and being more patient In the second half we were more patient on offense and more aggressive on defense."
Monroe scored the first three baskets of the third quarter, which brought the Wildcats (9-4) from four points down to a 25-23 lead.
Later on she hit a pair of free throws, a 3-pointer and a transition layup to give the Wildcats a 36-28 advantage at the end of the period.
"In the second half we weren't reaching on defense and we didn't let them get into the lane," said West Chicago coach Kim Wallner. "And then we got a few things going where Claire got some layups. After she got herself going to the basket, a few other people stepped up and scored. The defense created the offense today."
East Aurora, behind Jasmine Shipp, who was the team's high-scorer with 10 points, built up an early 19-10 lead, which the Wildcats were able to reduce to 23-19 by halftime, on a couple of baskets by Izzy Bruce, a Jessica Baids shot from the outside and Katie Staiten's traditional 3-point play.
"We started scoring against the zone at the end of the second quarter," said Wallner. "And then in the second half Izzy did a great job on Shipp. We pride ourselves on defense and that was the key to the second half."
The Wildcats' Mary Connelly and Madeline Warkins with 9 and 8 rebounds respectively, controlled the boards as the Wildcats pulled away.
"Playing after Christmas Day and then after Sunday with no practice makes it tough for the kids to play at a high level," Wallner aid. "We were a little bit out of rhythm."
Amber Carroll added 8 points for the Tomcats.
"West Chicago did a better job of executing in the second half," said East Aurora coach Bill Anderson. "We got into a rush and turned the ball over. And we weren't putting a body on them. They were a little more hungry and a little more aggressive and they deserved to win."