Wheaton Academy routs Lisle again

Lisle doesn't want to see Wheaton Academy again anytime soon.

For the second time this season the Warriors routed the Lions, this time in the Lisle Holiday Cage Classic semifinals by a 58-34 score Tuesday night. Wheaton Academy also defeated Lisle 50-28 Dec. 1.

Not that the Warriors were taking the second go-round for granted.

"We definitely came out not underestimating them, with great intensity in the first half," said Wheaton Academy point guard Sydney Sharkey, noting that Lisle had defeated Coal City, the team the Warriors beat Monday night by 1 point to reach the semifinals.

"That's the one team we have problems with," Lisle coach Jeff Javior added about Wheaton Academy, also noting the Coal City comparison. "We had problems with them last time, we had problems with them last year we had problems with them this year. I don't understand it. I don't know why. ...

"There's something about the mystique of Wheaton Academy that scares my girls."

The teams were tied at 6 when Kirsten Bell hit a 3-pointer to spark a 16-2 Wheaton Academy run. The first quarter ended with the Warriors (12-1) leading 27-11. At halftime it was 40-13.

"The first half I thought was the best half of defense we played all season," Wheaton Academy coach Beth Mitchell said. "Our intensity was great. Our off-ball defense was excellent."

Sharkey had her best game of the year, leading everyone with 19 points and adding 4 steals.

"Sydney just had a great game," Mitchell said. "Defensively and offensively it just kind of came together for her tonight."

"Definitely as a sophomore I'm getting a lot more confident because I'm not the youngest girl on the court anymore," Sharkey said. "I feel like I can be the quarterback of the team, which coach calls me. I really feel like I can lead the team."

Sharkey's performance overshadowed her big sister, Alexa, who scored 17 points of her own. Alexa Sharkey, a senior, passed the 1,500-point mark as a varsity player with 1:10 left in the third quarter when she hit a 5-foot jumper from the left baseline.

"I'm so happy for her," Sydney Sharkey said. "... I'm really proud of her. She played such a good game. She's my No. 1 (fan). I'm her No. 1 fan too."

Jackie Todd led Lisle (9-4) with 12 points.

Lisle will play Latin School in the third-place game at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, then Wheaton Academy and Immaculate Conception will meet for first place at 8 p.m.

"It's going to be a really, really good game," Sydney Sharkey said. "Intensity to the max. Their defense is amazing. We've got to step up our defense."