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Cyranoski, Lisle get drop on Seneca

When you shoot the basketball like Nicole Cyranoski can, it's hard to pass up a good look, even if the instructions call for a little patience while working the clock.

With Lisle protecting a 4-point lead over Seneca with just more than a minute left in Monday's Interstate Eight Conference opener, the Lions were attempting to run the clock down unless something like an easy layup developed. Instead, the sharp-shooting Cyranoski nailed her fourth 3-pointer of the night to seal Lisle's 50-43 home victory.

“I was nervous with the 4-point lead,” the first-year varsity guard said after finishing with a season-best 18 points. “My teammates did great job of finding me on the court, so it's all them.”

Cyranoski came up big at the biggest moments on Monday. She dropped a pair of 3s while scoring 8 points in the second quarter to push the 4-0 Lions on top 24-16. Then after the visitors stormed ahead 35-33 after three quarters with a 19-point quarter, the junior guard sparked the Lions with 10 fourth-quarter points, including the backbreaking, nerve-wracking 3 with 1:03 left to play that made the score 50-43.

Lisle coach Nick Balaban may not initially have been thrilled with that final 3-point attempt, but he sure did like the result.

“She was struggling a little the last couple games and she got down, but I told her, the one thing you can do for us is score,” Balaban said. “She got us some separation in the second quarter and then she did that again for us in the fourth.”

Natalie Takahashi had 10 points and 2 steals for the Lions, and TyAnn LeGrand-Melton scored 9 points before fouling out. But it was a total team effort as Melissa Ericson had 6 points and 5 rebounds, and Sarah Oard had 4 assists, two of which led to Cyranoski baskets down the stretch.

“We just knew we had to shoot the ball better I think, and defend and rebound,” said Cyranoski, the top scorer for the Lions junior varsity last year. “They were just beating us down the court in the third quarter, but it was nice to be able to have the fourth quarter to get it back.”

For the Irish, who dropped to 0-5 overall and 0-1 in conference, Paige Hacker and Karlie Cade each scored 9 points, but the visitors were done in after making just 12 of 32 free throws.

“I was extremely pleased with our second half, other than missing the free throws,” Seneca coach Barb Beck said. “They had some kids step up and hit some tough shots. They could easily miss those and the whole ballgame's got a different turn to it.”

Next up for Lisle is a tough test Thursday at Peotone against the conference favorite.

“We're off to a good start and we'll see what we're made of Thursday,” Balaban said.

Images: Lisle vs. Seneca, girls basketball

  Lisle's Kelly Hennessy, right, and Seneca's Emily Misener, left, go after a loose ball during girls basketball on Monday in Lisle. Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
  Lisle's Natalie Takahashi is fouled as she makes her way to the basket in action against Seneca during girls basketball on Monday in Lisle. Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
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