Wheeling stays calm, chews up Carmel

Talk about composure.

How many girls basketball teams have weathered a 20-0 run by its opponent and win a game?

Well, state-ranked Wheeling can be added to the list.

After falling behind 10-2, Indiana state power Carmel High School scored 20 unanswered points for a 22-10 lead with 1:36 left in the first half.

But the Wildcats (19-3) were far from done.

They slowly chipped away at that lead, getting to within 6 by half.

The 2009 Class 4A semifinalist took the lead again midway though the third quarter en route to a 67-59 triumph in the McDonald's Shootout at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park.

"It was too early to panic," said Wheeling coach Shelly Wiegel about the 12-point deficit. "These kids are really good about being positive."

"We knew we just had to step up and play our game," said Wildcats senior Stephanie Kuzmanic, who poured home 19 points with a career-high five 3-pointers. "We had to keep our composure. We knew there was a lot of time left so we knew we could come back."

Kuzmanic was 5 of 10 from 3-point range.

"I thought she was really patient," Wiegel added. "She didn't force anything."

Kuzmanic was not the only force in her family to achieve a personal best Monday.

Her sister Kellie, a sophomore forward, grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds along with scoring 8 points.

"We just really wanted to play as a team," Kellie added. "We knew they were up on us. We had to stay calm and play our game."

The Wildcats got a game-high 22 points from Minnesota recruit Janelle Cannon. who also handed out 8 assists with 8 rebounds and 4 steals.

Truman State University-bound Bianca Szafarowicz added 15 points with 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists and a blocked shot.

Senior guard Selma Smajlovic had a big 3-pointer in the third quarter which gave Wheeling the lead for good at 45-44 with two minutes left in the third quarter.

Just 30 seconds later, Stephanie Kuzmanic drilled her fourth 3-pointer from the top of the key for a 4-point lead.

Carmel (11-5), which was missing a pair of sophomores (one starter and a key reserve), is state-ranked in the Indiana's biggest class division.

Junior Torrie Thornton, a 6-foot Purdue recruit, and 5-8 sophomore Blaire Langlois each had 21 points to lead the Greyhounds.

Senior Annie Rubendunst, a 6-foot Northern Michigan recruit, added 9 points.

"They're a great team and we played them at the Purdue camp a few years ago when Ashley Wilson (Purdue freshman) was on their team," said Carmel coach Scott Bowen. "Coach (Shelly) Wiegel does a great job. They are well-disciplined.

"We just didn't get the shots we needed in the second half and their kids stepped up."

Carmel lost to Chicago power Whitney Young on Saturday.

"I think we got a little tired, too," Bowen said. "It was a great weekend. We've got to get better and learn from it."

Wheeling, which hit 8 3-pointers in the game, has won 11 of its last 12 games.

"This game was a lot like when we played in Missouri (won Christmas tourney three weeks ago) where we just went out and re-adjusted to what the other teams were doing," Wiegel said. "It's a good thing the game didn't end at half. It was a nice effort by everyone."