Haley's progress helps Libertyville top Lake Forest

Conspicuous by her black headband and color-matching high-tops and knee-high tights under her baggy game shorts, Alex Haley knows how to make herself stand out on the basketball court.

She's working on becoming a standout, too.

The sophomore flashed more of her potential Saturday, as she and backcourt partner Savannah Trees helped Libertyville win again.

The Wildcats pulled away from visiting Lake Forest to capture a 69-42 decision.

Both Trees and Haley surpassed their season-high point total by 1 and collected 6 steals apiece, as the Wildcats won their ninth game in a row to improve 15-4 overall and 4-2 in the North Suburban Lake Division.

Trees led all scorers with 23 points, continuing the junior's breakout season in her second on varsity.

"It's not just (her) scoring," Libertyville coach Kathie Swanson said.

"It's assists, defense. She does it all. I usually put her on the other team's best player."

Then there's Haley, whose moxie and confidence belie her inexperience on the varsity level.

"Alex is a tough little player," Swanson said.

"She's a work in progress. She's still learning because it's her first year on varsity, but she knows how to attack the basket really well, and she's got a really nice midrange game."

Lake Forest (11-7, 2-4) was coming off a heartbreaking home loss to Warren on Friday night, getting outscored 14-6 in the fourth quarter to fall 46-43.

The Scouts trailed 33-23 at halftime to Libertyville, but their own promising sophomore, Mary Striedl, helped bring them back in the game.

Striedl scored 10 of her team-best 13 points in the third quarter, with her 3-pointer pulling the visitors within 46-39 entering the fourth. Lake Forest had gotten within 37-34 on Christine Menzies' offensive-rebound bucket.

But Libertyville's press, which gave the Scouts problems all game, helped break the game open.

Lake Forest committed 14 of its 39 turnovers in the fourth quarter.

"Better pressure defensively," Swanson said.

Haley dominated the fourth, scoring 11 straight points during one stretch to make it a 61-41 game.

Olivia Wilcox was another Wildcat who played well, finishing with 9 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. The junior was 4 of 5 from the floor.

"I was really proud of how she played," Swanson said. "I thought she was more aggressive than she usually is. She got a lot of nice box-outs, good rebounds, pushed it up, and she finished a lot."