Lisle traps Sandwich

Lisle forward Sierra Birdsell said she feels for teams that have to deal with the Lions’ tough, trapping defense.

That swarming defense was on full display in the first half of Monday’s Interstate Eight Conference contest between host Lisle and visiting Sandwich. The Lions forced 15 first-half turnovers while building a 26-12 lead on their way to a 52-36 victory.

With a 5-foot-11 point guard in Leah Reeves who can play both inside and on the perimeter, and a pair of quick, 5-10 defenders in Monifah Davis and Kate Twaddle, the Lions’ half-court trap can cause teams fits.

“I’ll tell you what, I wouldn’t want to be the girl against Monifah and Kate and the trap,” Birdsell said..

Lisle coach Nick Balaban credits the in-your-face defense with helping his team jump out to a 6-1 start this season. Monday’s conference opener came on the heels of a 4-1, runner-up showing at Riverside-Brookfield’s Thanksgiving tourney.

“Our half-court trap has been a good defense for us these last few games,” he said. “It creates problems because of our length and because of our athleticism. When you have somebody like Kate Twaddle and Monifah Davis and Sarah Mogensen playing up top on that defense, it creates problems for the opposition.”

While Lisle was limiting the Indians (1-4, 0-1) to 12 points in the first half, Birdsell equaled that total herself and Mogensen added 11 more for the hosts.

Sandwich did start fast in the third quarter, scoring the first 7 points to close to within 26-19. But Reeves knocked down the first two of her three 3-point attempts as Lisle fought off any serious comeback threats by the visitors.

“I think it was the first time I had to have my two post players guard a point guard,” Sandwich coach Randy Malloy said of the matchup headaches Lisle causes. “They cut really nice and they hit their shots real well. It seemed like every time we had a little run they’d knock down a 3.”

Reeves had a trio of 3s to finish with 9 points, while Birdsell and Mogensen led a balanced Lisle attack with 14 points apiece.

Twaddle didn’t score a point in the game but was solid on defense and also had 9 assists on the offensive end of the floor. Also for the Lions, Davis had 7 points and 5 rebounds and freshman TyAnn LeGrand-Melton provided a spark off the bench with a pair of 3-pointers and 4 rebounds.

“What I like a lot about this team,” Birdsell said, “is we can use so many different people for so many different things.”

The Lions will be tested this week with games against Wheaton Academy and Plano.