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Casale, Svoboda take advantage as Carmel rolls

One of the advantages of a one-sided basketball game is the chance for a coach to give playing time to players who might not see action in a close game.

The outcome of Monday’s game in Mundelein essentially decided after the first quarter as unbeaten Carmel Catholic raced to a 22-3 lead over visiting Marian Central.

So in the final quarter of this 74-35 romp, both sophomore Emily Casale and senior guard Alexa Svoboda saw extended playing time.

Casale grabbed 5 rebounds in the final quarter alone. Svoboda showed off some good moves around the hoop and finished with 8 points.

“Alexa goes to the basket hard,’’ said teammate Leah Lach. “And she has good touch on the ball. She can also rebound.”

And the sophomore, Casale?

“She is one of our younger players,’’ Lach said. “She’s adapted great. She’s great on the boards and gives up help-side defense.”

Four Corsairs scored in double figures, led by lefty Cassidy Kloss (19 points). Lach checked in with 14.

“We really shared the ball and this was a team effort,’’ Lach said. “I look to score and look for cuts.”

Carmel (6-0) scored the game’s first 9 points. By the time the first quarter expired, Kloss, Lach, and Kathleen Felicelli were all easily outscoring Marian Central.

“I thought we played well,’’ said Carmel coach Kelly Perz. “We did what we had to do. We are good on defense and we can get scoring from our guards and in the post.”

The Marian Central offense showed some life in the second quarter. On a drive to the hoop from Sarah Benigni, the Carmel lead shrunk a little to 28-13. But Carmel closed the quarter on a 10-0 run. Kloss and Felicelli (13 points) both had steals and layups closing play in the first half.

Held without a 3-pointer before halftime, Carmel had treys from Nicole Bitter and Kloss in the third quarter. A tough flip shot from Lach ballooned the Carmel lead to 54-20. Carmel closed the third quarter on a 10-2 run.

Lach, who would like to attend a Big Ten school next year, is enjoying her final season as a Corsairs player.

“We have a really fun atmosphere here,’’ she said. “Our bench is really into the game.”

Perz noted the schedule stiffens the rest of the week, as Resurrection and Benet Academy are next up on the Carmel schedule.

  Carmel’s Nicole Bitter, right, drives past Marian Central’s Ellen Koscielniak on Monday night at Carmel Catholic High School. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Marian Central’s Hannah Davis, left and Carmel’s Emma Rappe battle for a rebound on Monday night at Carmel Catholic High School. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Carmel’s Leah Lach, left, drives on Marian Central’s Hannah Davis on Monday night at Carmel Catholic High School. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Carmel’s Leah Lach, right, and Marian Central’s Brie Baumert battle for a loose ball on Monday night at Carmel Catholic High School. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Carmel’s Kathleen Felicelli, left, drives on Marian Central’s Brie Baumert on Monday night at Carmel Catholic High School. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
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