Winning's just fine with McClellan

Until he got to Lewis University, sophomore guard Chris McClellan never played for a winning basketball team at any level.

That has made his first two years at the Division II school in Romeoville even more special.

And one of the reasons that Lewis is winning - the Flyers have a 12-7 record - is McClellan.

The former all-area Wheeling guard recently posted a career-high 26 points on 9-for-14 shooting to propel the Flyers to a 74-69 Great Lakes Valley Conference road victory over Missouri S&T at the Multi-Purpose Building.

"Chris McClellan made some huge plays for us," said Lewis men's basketball coach Scott Trost after that game.

McClellan has been huge from 3-point range, where he leads the Flyers with 43 buckets from beyond the arc.

"I've always been a perimeter-type player," McClennan said. " I've just always worked on my outside shot a lot. I feel confident with it."

Last season, he appeared in 26 games and averaged 4.6 ppg as a freshman reserve.

McClellan is starting this season and his 13.3 ppg is second best on the squad.

The former three-year starter for Wheeling tossed in 49 3-pointers as a senior while converting 91.8 percent (124-of-135) of his free throw attempts.

This season, he is the Flyers top free throw shooter, making 58 of 67 (86 percent).

"My first season here was pretty hard," said McClellan, who attended London Middle School in Wheeling. "I didn't expect that. But now I've gotten used to it. All the upperclassmen were giving me confidence and really helped me from their past experiences."

After a 3-point performance against Purdue Calumet on Dec. 22, McClellan averaged 18 points in his next eight games, while shooting 55.3 percent (47-for-85) from the floor and 52.3 percent (23-for-44) from 3-point range.

"I know I have to step up every game," said McClellan, who is studying sports management with his eyes set on becoming a sports agent.

"I'm taking marketing classes now," he said. "Next year it will be pre-law classes. Next year is a big year academically."

Right now, he is having a big basketball year.

• Senior center Andy Merklein (Prospect) of Wisconsin-La Crosse is averaging 6 points and 4.6 rebounds. He ranks second on the team in rebounding.

Teammate Al Chery (Wheeling) of the Wisconsin-La Crosse is averaging 8.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in his last two games and had a career-high 18 points in a 75-56 win over Hardin-Simmons University (Texas).

• Sophomore guard Jeff Heiden (Prospect) of the University of Wisconsin- La Cross had a career-high 16 points in a win at St. Mary's (Minn.), including 4-of-5 3-pointers.

Men's track and fieldAurora University senior thrower Adrian Kibiersza (Maine West) was named Northern Athletics Conference Student-Athlete of the Week.Competing in the indoor portion of the Spartans' schedule, Kibiersza's 16.26 meter throw in the shot put, which won the event, was good enough for an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the event at the Wisconsin-Whitewater Invitational. He also set a personal record with his mark in the weight throw (14.84 meters).Women's basketball Wisconsin-Parkside junior center Brittany Hogen (Hersey) has been selected as the Great Lakes Valley Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week. Hogen led the Rangers to three league victories and posted a double-double in each contest. It marks the second time this season Hogen has won the award.In Parkside's 85-77 win over 22nd-ranked Quincy on Monday, Hogen posted her first double-double of the week with a game-high 26 points and 12 rebounds. She shot 62.5 percent from the field (10-16) and 85.7 percent from the free throw line (6-7).Hogen recorded her second double-double of the week in the Rangers' 81-67 win at Maryville. Hogen had 10 points on 5-for-12 shooting and added 10 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal.In Parkside's 57-48 win at Missouri ST on Saturday, Hogen capped the week with 19 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals and an assist. She shot 57.1 percent from the field (8-14) and 75 percent from the free throw line (3-4). For the week, Hogen averaged 18.3 points and 11.3 rebounds. She shot 54.7 percent from the field (23-42) and 69.2 percent from the free throw line (9-for-13).She is ranked ninth in the league in scoring this season (14.3 ppg), second in rebounding (8.7 rpg), fifth in field goal percentage (. 559) and 15th in blocked shots per game (0.65). She has recorded five double-doubles on the year. bull; Purdue freshman Ashley Wilson (Wheeling) scored 4 points and grabbed 2 rebounds in seven minutes when the Boilermakers upset No. 23 Penn State 80-76 in overtime.Wilson has played in 21 games this season and started in four. She is averaging 5.2 ppg and 4.0 rebounds. She has 16 steals and 13 assists for the 11-10 Boilermakers.bull; Senior Laura Joya (Wheeling) is averaging 12.3 ppg for Truman State University (7-11) along with 3.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.3 steals.Women's swimmingLast Saturday, Illinois State hosted Wisconsin-Green Bay and seven Redbird seniors were recognized for their athletic and academic achievements.Among the group was Katelyn Prorok (Hersey), who competed for the last time in Horton Pool. Prorok has been named Missouri Valley Conference Diver of the Week three times this season. Her third honor came when she made it into the finals during both days of competition at the Zippy Invitational in Akron, Ohio in December. Men's swimmingCarthage junior Bob Pellican (Hersey) took first place in the 200 backstroke (2:00.26) and the 200 individual medley (2:05.17) at the Wisconsin Private College Swimming Championship held at Carthage's Koenitzer Aquatic Center.Softball The Illinois Bash Softball Association is currently hosting the second season of the Annual Midnight Bash indoor softball tourney. Nearly 100 girls travel fastpitch teams aged 12-and-under to 18-and-under from Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois participate.Games are played every Saturday night, except Super Bowl weekend, beginning at 11 p.m. in Schaumburg and 11:30 p.m. in McCook. Each team plays three one-hour games. Games are at the Schaumburg Sports Center 1141 W. Irving Park Rd. and the McCook Max at 4750 S. Vernon, in McCook."The games are designed to allow softball travel teams with an opportunity to keep their competitiveness throughout the winter months," said Illinois Bash coach and organizer of the event Jim Goranson (St. Viator). "It keeps the athletes out of trouble and active in athletics. The reason for the late night times is because of the cost of renting the indoor facilities for such a small team group."The games run through March right in time for the high school softball season."After the games teams go out for breakfast at IHOP in Schaumburg and the place is rocking cause the players are so alert and awake," Goranson said. " The parents on the other hand can't wait for their beds."Men's cross countryU.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-13th) joined members of the North Central College community in honoring the men's cross country squad on its victory at the 2009 NCAA Division III National Championships.They presented the squad with a copy of House Resolution 1001 in a ceremony at the Res-Rec Center.Among the members of the North Central squad was Michael Spain (Schaumburg)."We are very proud of these young men. Yes, it's great to win a national championship but what we're more proud of is the young men they have become in the process of achieving that goal, " said head coach Al Carius.The 2009 national championship was the 13th in men's cross country at North Central and the college's 23rd national team title. The Cardinals established a meet record with a 131-point margin of victory.Men's track and fieldArthur Baptist (Prospect), a junior at the University of Chicago, placed first in the 3,000-meter run at the 2010 Chicago Duals Meet with a time of 8.53 minutes. Nine teams participated in the meet which was held at the Henry Crown Field House in Chicago.