Lake Park gets everyone involved
Lake Park senior Kinsey Tweedy scored 11 of the Lake Park girls basketball team's first 19 points Monday.
Senior Daina Riser had 5 of a personal-high 6 steals.
And they were only part of an impressive first half against Glenbard North on both ends of the floor.
"We've worked since freshman year on (our press)," Tweedy said. "My defense this game was a lot better than a lot of other games, but I've had a lot of success so far (this season)."
The Lancers could do no wrong early en route to their 62-24 DuPage Valley Conference victory in Roselle.
Lake Park (10-3, 3-1) led 44-5 at halftime after outscoring the Panthers 19-0 in the second quarter.
"(Lake Park coach Brian Rupp) told us, 'Let's try and get a goose egg,' " Riser said. "You just go with the game. You don't really notice the score. At a timeout I looked up and saw it. You don't realize."
Sophomore Darrione Rogers finished with 21 points and four 3-pointers even though she and her fellow Lake Park starters played only half of the game. Tweedy ended with 14 points and senior Carson Vance had 7.
Sophomore reserve Arielle Capel led the short-handed Panthers (2-10, 0-5) with 4 of her 6 points in the fourth quarter.
Glenbard North missed its 5 second-quarter shots with no free throws. Lake Park coerced numerous turnovers with its 2-2-1 press, resulting in 30 of their points.
"We wanted to focus on defense, certainly after that first quarter (leading 25-5)," Rupp said. "It doesn't matter who you play. When you don't allow a point in a quarter, that was something we were looking for."
Rupp was excited that the Lancers continued their strong play from the final three quarters in Saturday's loss to Benet. It's the kind of effort needed for Saturday's meeting with Wheaton North (8-1, 4-0) in Roselle.
"We're trying to reach a standard right now," Rupp said. "That was the theme of today. It shouldn't matter who is in front of us right now."
Glenbard North again played without key seniors Lauren Lee and Leah Miller, leaving starters Aprill Johnson and Trinity Medina as their lone active seniors Monday.
Lee has missed the last five games and Miller the last two. They are expected to return for the Panthers' opening game of Wheaton North's Falcon Classic Dec. 26.
"Probably about 25 points of our scoring is sitting on the bench," first-year Glenbard North coach Steve Wit said. "My guards are young. Every game we get pressed, it's let's learn how to handle this. It's given us a lot of trouble right now, especially because we don't have our senior leaders there."
The Lancers complemented the defense by hitting their first 6 shots, including 3s by Rogers, Vance and Tweedy, for a 16-0 advantage.
Tweedy was 4 for 4 from the field in the first quarter while making 2 of 3 free throws. Tweedy scored seconds into the game as she tapped the opening tip behind to Vance, who found Tweedy down court for a layup.
"Kinsey basically set the tone right off the tip," Rupp said.
Tweedy made 5 of 6 shots overall and added 3 steals. She plays much more confidently after being hampered by dislocated ankles at the beginning and end of junior year.
"(This season has) been pretty good, a lot better than last year," Tweedy said. "I'm 100 percent healthy. I've been strengthening (the ankle) up for a while."
Without scoring a point, Riser also contributed all over the court, adding 5 assists and 4 rebounds to her steals mostly from the back of the press.
"I could have done a little more, but I'll take what I've got," Riser said. "Our coaches just sitting back talk to me (on defense). If anyone's back, they'll be like, 'Two back,' or 'One back,' and then they just say drop. If anyone's back there, it's my job to cover for my team."