Addison Trail follows early lead to victory over Wheaton Academy

An early lead can go a long way. At least that's the way it worked for Addison Trail on Thursday.

The Blazers grabbed a first-half double-digit lead and let it carry them to their sixth straight victory, a 42-30 girls basketball win over Wheaton Academy in the first round at the Lisle Holiday Cage Classic.

"I think it made us feel confident and it helped us throughout the whole game," Blazers sophomore Quiana Birmingham said.

The Blazers (8-5) led 18-6 midway through the second period when Mia Johnson hit a basket and then added a pair of free throws. Wheaton Academy didn't challenge the Blazers again until the fourth quarter.

"These girls have bought into that word, grinding," first-year Addison Trail coach Cory Little said. "As you saw before, we're up 10, (they) cut it to 6, now we have to go, and I preach grind, grind, grind. We've got to grind for rebounds, grind for loose balls, grind to get the perfect set down so we can score. They executed well."

Addison Trail led 31-16, its biggest lead of the game, late in the third quarter after a Juliana Nasti putback. The Warriors (7-3) fought back to within 10 when Jerilyn Blackmon hit a 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer.

When Molly Venhuizen hit a couple of baskets to open the fourth quarter, the Warriors were within 6 points.

"We were switching the screens and communicating," Warriors coach Erin Carwell said. "That's what we've been talking about all season, is just making sure we're communicating on the court, and when we do that it goes a long way for our girls."

Johnson ended Wheaton Academy's 9-0 run with a pair of free throws with 3:54 to play, and her basket at 3:02 bumped the lead back to double digits. Wheaton Academy never again got closer than 8 points.

"We weren't worried," Birmingham said. "Teams get on runs. It happens, so we had to make sure we stayed composed and made sure we got back onto our run."

Johnson led Addison Trail with 16 points, nine of them in the fourth quarter with Birmingham assisting Johnson twice. Birmingham added 9 points, 5 assists and 3 steals.

Junior Payton Collins led Wheaton Academy with 8 points, all assisted by senior guard Imani Hillmer.

The Blazers will take on host Lisle in a quarterfinal at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Wheaton Academy meets Illiana Christian in the consolation bracket at 3:30 p.m.