Warriors repeat defeat of Spartans

It turns out Wheaton Academy's first victory against St. Francis wasn't a fluke.

The Warriors defeated St. Francis 49-36 Saturday night at the Lisle Holiday Cage Classic, advancing to Monday's tournament semifinals.

"That was a good game," Wheaton Academy coach Beth Mitchell said. "I kind of feel sorry for (the Spartans) that they had to play us so early again. It would've been nice to see them a little later in the tournament, but they're a good team. They really are a good team. Our tranisition game really gives them a lot of problems."

The Warriors had beaten the Spartans 62-47 on Dec. 6 in a nonconference game.

"I was really excited for this game. I was pumped, because they've kind of always been kind of a rival to us," the Warriors' Meghan Grant said. "It's been good to beat them twice."

In the first matchup the Warriors (11-0) pulled away in the third quarter, but Saturday they took care of business early. St. Francis held a 5-4 lead when Wheaton Academy freshman guard Sydney Sharkey hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to start a 13-1 finish to the first quarter. Sharkey finished with 10 points.

Junior Alexa Sharkey led the Warriors with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals and a block.

"She's in a class by herself at times," Mitchell said of the older Sharkey sister. "She's so quick and she covers the floor so well and she just does so many good things. She's very difficult to defend off the dribble. Just her being able to take the ball off the rebound all the way down to score gives us a great offensive weapon."

Grant, a 6-foot junior, added 10 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals coming off the bench instead of in her usual starting role.

"We went with a little smaller lineup, starting Leah (Fortune), just having those four guards and they're all so darned quick, it's hard," Mitchell said. "St. Francis really played well. We just happened to be the better team today."

"It was different, but whatever works for the team," Grant said.