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Fallon fits Army in fine fashion

You hear all the time how high school student athletes looking for the perfect fit in college.

Maine West standout guard Alisa Fallon sure feels she has found it.

Fallon, who has helped lead the Warriors to a 12-0 record this winter, has signed a letter of intent to play at Army.

The West Point school has been part of her life for a long time.

"I have three cousins who have gone to West Point," Fallon said. "So I've been an Army fan since I was in fifth grade. Being able to get an exceptional education, learn how to lead and serve the country and play DI basketball all at West Point is the ideal way to spend my collegiate career."

Fallon is not sure what she will study but is hoping she can take classes that will help in the business world.

"Because I still have dreams of being a successful businesswoman," she said.

She already has become one of the most successful players in Illinois.

As a sophomore she started for the Trinity team that played in the Class AA state finals, one year before her transfer as a junior to Maine West where she won a sectional championship last winter.

Fallon received her first college offer from DePaul just weeks after graduating from middle school.

"So I knew then that receiving a scholarship was a realistic goal for me," Fallon said.

Basketball is not the only sport in which Fallon excels.

Last year, she became the first athlete in Maine West history to be named all-state in two sports after she placed fifth in the state discus finals.

Fallon credits her mother Shelley for her love of basketball. Shelley played volleyball for one year at a Division III Tarkio College in Missouri.

Shelley's brother (Scott Giovannelli), the father of all three of Alisa's West Point cousins, played football at Tarkio.

"My mom has always been a huge Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan fan," Fallon said. "When I was younger, our house was filled with retro Bulls decor and getting a new pair of Jordan shoes was a big deal to me. Basketball was my mom's favorite sport to watch. She shared her love of the game with me at a young age. She said 'any sport I had you try you were good at, but you were always the best at basketball.' "

And now she's one of the best players in the state.

1,000 again for Boyd

Elk Grove High School's 1,000-point scorer is now a 1,000-point scorer for Cornell College in Iowa.

Rams senior Diamond Boyd reached the milestone as Cornell's rallied for a 55-49 over rival Coe inside Kohawk Arena in Cedar Rapids.

The Rams (5-3) finished the contest on a 9-1 run to claim their first win over the Kohawks in women's basketball since the 2013-14 season.

Boyd eclipsed the 1,000-point mark on Cornell's first possession just 35 seconds into the contest.

The reigning Midwest Conference Player of the Year took a strong dribble drive to her left and elevated for a bank shot in the lane.

Boyd became the eighth member of Cornell's 1,000-point club, the fifth in coach Brent Brase's 13 seasons. She's the only player in the exclusive group to also top 600 career rebounds and 200 steals.

Boyd finished the night with 11 points, raising her career total to 1,010 in her 81st game with the Rams. She added 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. Boyd also collected four steals to climb to No. 2 on Cornell's all-time list with 223. The program record is 237.

Men's basketball

Bucknell freshman guard Jimmy Sotos (Conant) scored a career-high 13 points in an 85-79 loss to Virginia Commonwealth.

• Drake sophomore Ore Arogundade (St. Viator) was 3-of-4 from the arc and 6-of-10 overall to finish with 15 points for the Bulldogs in a 68-67 loss to No. 14-ranked Minnesota.

Pearson to North Central

Senior Allison Pearson, the point guard for Maine West's 12-0 girls basketball team, is committed to North Central College in Naperville. Pearson is currently running the offense for a team that is averaging 65 points.

As a junior, she helped directed the Warriors to the Central Suburban North, regional and sectional championships. She averaged 8.8 points with 2.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.8 steals. Pearson tossed home a career-high 18 points to help Maine West defeat Naperville Central in the championship game of the Dundee-Crown Christmas tournament. "Allison is a tremendously hardworking young lady," said Warriors coach Kim deMarigny. following the 2017-18 season. "She studies the game at a level that most high school students never envision. She is our floor leader

Solimene to DePauw

St. Viator girls basketball point guard Olivia Solimene has made a verbal commitment to DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind.

As a junior, the all-area selection was the Lions' second-leading scorer (10.2 points) while hitting 47 3-pointers with 2.4 rebounds per game as the team's offensive floor leader. "Olivia improved her scoring average by 3 points this season," said St. Viator coach Jason Raymond of the team co-captain following that season. "She is one of the hardest-working players on the team." Solimene advanced to the state finals for the 3-point shooting contest in Normal. "Along with the other members of her class she has been a huge part in the transformation of the girls basketball culture at Saint Viator High School," Raymond said. "She cares tremendously about winning and playing the right way."

Men's soccer

Augustana junior defender Kiel Pederson (Hersey) received honorable mention recognition in the Iowa Conference for the second straight season. The 5-foot-10 defender played in 16 games this season, scoring 3 goals with 6 assists, 12 points, 13 shots, 5 shots on goals.

Football

Augustana senior tight end Andrew Apel (Buffalo Grove) was the winner of the squad's Doug Schmied Award, voted on by the coaches for loyalty, leadership, citizenship, and the most sports- and team-minded attitude. The honor is named for Schmied, the IWU senior offensive lineman who passed away in 2005.

Happy holidays

Sports Notes thanks all of its readers throughout the school year and wishes everyone happy holidays. The column will return on Jan. 9, 2018. Please continue to email news on local athletes from the northwest suburbs to jleusch@dailyherald.com

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