Lisle stays unbeaten in conference

With less than two minutes remaining and the Lisle girls basketball team owning the lead, junior Jenna Johnston stood along the 3-point line trying to set a screen for junior Emma Rossin.

When Johnston broke toward the basket, Rossin instead passed to the wide-open Johnston for an easy layup.

"It most definitely was not planned," Rossin said, "but it worked out."

The Lions value teamwork. On Monday that was the cornerstone for perhaps their sweetest victory so far in another successful season to defeat Reed-Custer 54-49 in Lisle and remain undefeated in the new Illinois Central Eight Conference.

Three players had 12 points for the Lions (16-3, 6-0) - junior Abby Casmer, Rossin and Johnston.

"It definitely felt (rewarding) because Reed-Custer is one of the better teams in conference," Rossin said. "We knew we had to come out strong, everyone had to play well to beat them, a team effort. It felt really nice because the scoring was really even."

Casmer scored 7 points in the fourth quarter, Rossin hit four 3-pointers and Johnston completed another double-double with 10 rebounds. Junior Cassidy Allen and junior guard Tara Kane each added 7 points, and Casmer, Rossin and Kane survived having four fouls.

"The thing that I like about this team is the balance that we have," Lisle coach Nick Balaban said.

The Lions won their first five conference games by between 23 and 30 points, but Reed-Custer (10-8, 4-2) rose to the occasion after entering Monday tied for second with Peotone in the ICEC. At the Lisle Holiday Cage Classic, the Lions finished sixth and Reed-Custer 12th.

"When you're having the kind of season we've having (13-0 start), we're getting everybody's best every night. That's just going to continue," Balaban said.

"I think that's good in a sense because if we're in those situations more, it'll help us down the stretch as we get into the state tournament. That's why at times we don't look as good as we can be."

The Lions require further teamwork after losing starting sophomore point guard and soccer standout Emma Webb for the season to a torn ACL in her left knee during Game 11 at Herscher Dec. 12.

The 5-10 Webb, who underwent surgery Dec. 20, formed a great complement of point guards and matchup options with the speedy 5-1 Kane.

Webb remains valuable from the bench.

"She usually gives a speech here or there. Her spirit really riles up the bench and court even though she can't be out there," Johnston said.

"At first everybody was really upset because (Webb is) one of the better guards and ballhandlers and she's tall so she could get inside, too," Rossin said. "Knowing she's there cheering us on, it makes us feel good, and she's still out there in our hearts."

After a slow offensive start Lisle prevailed behind two big scoring runs, the second a 12-3 spurt ending the third quarter to regain the lead 34-31.

The Comets threatened at 45-41, but Rossin made her last 3 - a bank shot with 2:48 left. The Lions pulled ahead by as many as 9 before Reed-Custer's Jaden Christian scored the game's final 4 points.

"Oh, yeah. I totally called that (bank shot). That one was planned for sure," Rossin joked.

In the second quarter Rossin's back-to-back 3s minus the backboard helped Lisle turn an 11-5 deficit into a 19-12 lead before the Comets pulled ahead 22-21 at the half.

Johnston had 6 points in the third quarter with two of her three putback baskets and provided key defensive assistance on 6-2 senior Kylie Balgemann. Johnston also had a double-double in the 60-35 victory at Peotone Dec. 2.

"I've had on and off days but I'd say this is one of my better days. I've been in the game recently and sharing the ball," Johnston said.

The Comets received most of their scoring from returning all-conference players Christian and Balgemann and junior guard Danielle Cherry.

Besides Balgemann's recent return to the lineup, this marked one of the few times the Comets were at full strength.

"We have to kind of learn how to play with (Balgemann again) a little bit. We had some girls step up for us," Reed-Custer coach Nick Klein said. "I've been the coach for 10 years and I think with Lisle, except for a handful of games, it's been a 2-, 3-, 5-point game every time we play. It's always a good game."