Trojans pull into tie for league lead
Maggie Troxel wasn't sure she wanted to play basketball this year, only joining the Timothy Christian team at midseason.
She's very glad she did.
Troxel joined fellow seniors Lauren Gehrke, Celeste VanderMeer and Jordyn Strube in celebrating a 51-44 Senior Night victory against Aurora Christian on Thursday night in Elmhurst. The Trojans (20-5, 11-2) pulled into a three-way tie for first place in the Metro Suburban Conference Red Division with the Eagles and Chicago Christian.
Timothy Christian finishes the conference season against Guerin on Saturday. Aurora Christian plays Ridgewood. Both teams begin regionals next week, the Trojans in Class 2A, the Eagles in Class 1A.
"It's really cool. It's a great group, and like it says up there," Troxel said, motioning to a banner on the gym wall, "our last conference (championship) win was 2012, if we beat Guerin, obviously. But it's huge. It's a great group."
Added Gehrke: "It was really nerve-wracking going into it, but the nerves made us play together more and I think made us play even harder, and the crowd played a huge part in that too."
The Trojans defeated Aurora Christian for the third time this season, including a Thanksgiving tournament victory, by taking control in the second quarter. The Trojans kept going to 5-foot-11 sophomore Hannah Schuringa and 6-foot sophomore Sarah Carstensen in the low post, and their height gave the Eagles (18-7, 11-2) fits.
"Sometimes people just don't match up well with other teams," Eagles coach Burney Wilkie said.
Schuringa responded with 21 points, 10 in the second quarter. Schuringa also had 10 rebounds, 5 blocks and 3 assists.
"Amazing, Like usual, amazing," Troxel said of Schuringa. "The blocks, I think that really got us pumped up because that started happening in the second quarter and it was huge. She always can get a lot of points for us, which is great."
Carstensen had 10 points, 6 rebounds and 5 blocks. Sophomore point guard Sureya Alex added 10 points and 5 rebounds.
Mia Richert scored 12 points, and Tori Henning and Lexi Lamanna had 11 each for the Eagles, who again started three freshmen and a sophomore.
"It kind of shows their character because to go out and play the way they have, to have 18 wins at this point, I'm really proud of them," Wilkie said.