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Fast start carries Lake Park past WW South

Lake Park never gave Wheaton Warrenville South a chance to keep its unbeaten DuPage Valley Conference girls basketball record intact.

The Lancers scored the first 12 points of the game and didn't let the Tigers get closer than 4, taking a 35-27 victory Tuesday night in Wheaton.

"I guess that was part of our motivation, just like everyone at this time when they see Wheaton Warrenville South is 8-0," Lancers coach Brian Rupp said.

"It's probably one of the biggest games we've had this season," Lancers senior Jordan Bradley added. "It was a chance to show who we really were because we've always sort of been in the back of the pack of the DVC, and now's our chance to get to the front."

Bradley was a big part of how the Lancers (12-10, 7-3) got to the front in Tuesday's game. She hit two 3-pointers in that first-quarter run, when Lake Park made 5 of 6 shots from behind the arc. Carson Vance, Sarah Ludwig and Sarah Cillick also drained 3-pointers in the first period.

"Credit Lake Park," Tigers coach Rob Kroehnke said. "They came out and they just went crazy. They just were draining shots."

The 12-point deficit to start the game was the biggest the Tigers (14-5, 8-1) have faced this season. They still hold a one-game lead in the DVC race.

The loss comes in the Tigers' first conference game since losing senior leader Erin Madigan to a season-ending knee injury.

"Right off the bat, that was a hole," Kroehnke said. "...It was something new for us, and obviously with Erin being out, everybody's trying to find their role. Roles have to change offensively. We stuck with it very well. We weathered the storm and then we hung around."

"Eventually they started to get out on us. They started to give us a battle, but we were able to come back right at them," added Bradley, the only Lancer in double digits with 10 points.

Strong starts are getting to be a habit for the Lancers.

"The other night against Naperville Central we scored 24 points in the first quarter," Rupp said. "I'm starting to think that we're a really good starting team. It allowed us to win some games because of that little cushion."

The Lancers have won six of their last seven games.

"We've got a lot of girls that believe," Rupp said. "We've got a good mixture of seniors and other levels, and knowing their role has helped out. We've got higher aspirations than this, and it starts in the DVC. It really does. We're in the mix right now at 7-3."

Follow Orrin on Twitter @Orrin_Schwarz

Images: Lake Park vs. Wheaton Warrenville South girls basketball

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