Aurora Christian sweeps Metro Red

Anna Griffin was not about to suffer her first conference loss in the Aurora Christian girls basketball regular-season finale Thursday night.

A transfer from Plainfield Central, Griffin can play all five positions for the Eagles.

The junior was an unstoppable force for Aurora Christian in the opening half of the Eagles' 61-46 victory over Timothy Christian.

Griffin, who finished with game-highs of 22 points and 15 rebounds, had a double-double by halftime as the Eagles swept their season series against the Trojans in Aurora.

Aurora Christian completed a 14-0 conference record in claiming the Metro Suburban Red title over Timothy Christian, which finished 12-2.

Griffin had 12 points and 7 rebounds in the first quarter alone as Aurora Christian (25-4 overall) scored 28 of the first 39 points of the opening half to seize command.

"We tried to keep her out of offensive rebounds," Timothy Christian post Grace Roland said. "Most of her points came on bunnies in the paint."

"This is the best chemistry we have had the whole season," said Griffin, who had 16 points and 10 rebounds as the Eagles secured a 33-19 lead into the intermission. "To get the conference championship we had to come out really hard. You have to work hard and play hard."

But Griffin would hardly be the only nemesis for Timothy Christian (21-6).

Aurora Christian sharpshooting guard Lexi Lamanna drained three 3-pointers from well beyond the arc and scored 7 of her 15 points in succession for the Eagles when Timothy Christian made a run in the third quarter.

"They weren't from NBA (range)," Lamanna said of her perimeter makes. "I usually shoot from far behind (the line) because I'm short and it's hard for me to get a shot up. It always feels nice to have a cushion."

The Eagles' other notable development was sophomore forward Thaya Luse scoring 10 of her 12 points in a brief span bridging the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth.

"When TL is playing well, we are tough to beat," Aurora Christian coach Burney Wilkie said. "She has had a remarkable last 10 games for us. She was in foul trouble early tonight."

Timothy climbed within single figures when Hannah Schuringa, who led Timothy Christian with 17 points, scored on the inside late in the third quarter.

But the 52-44 Aurora Christian lead was back to double figures for the remainder of the game on the next possession when Luse converted a 3-point play.

Timothy Christian was able to hold Griffin to 6 points after halftime, but the Eagles' contributions from elsewhere could not be nullified.

Aurora Christian boys 95, Harvest Christian 53: The Aurora Christian boys team played in the preliminary against Harvest Christian in a nonconference game Thursday night in Aurora.

Conjuring memories of the ABA, the Eagles erupted for 63-first-half points in their 95-53 rout of the Lions.

Aurora Christian (16-5) certainly would have topped the century mark had it not been for the fourth-quarter slaughter rule and coach Dan Beebe sending his starters to the pines after three.

Taaj Davis' game-high 32-point night consisted of 17 of the Eagles' 35 first-quarter points in leading four other players in double figures.

"We played to our strengths and pointed out their weaknesses," Davis said. "It's definitely fun to get out and run and make highlight plays."

Davis scored 10 of his 25 first-half points off transition points courtesy of 5 steals.

The Eagles' Danny New scored 14 points; Daniel Walker, Josh Cloyd and Drew Meyers all added 10 each for Aurora Christian.

Ben Lothery pumped in a team-high 25 points for Harvest Christian (14-10), with Matt Ellett adding 11 more.

- Kevin McGavin