2012-2013 Girls'
Basketball Focus
Rob Kroehnke couldnt have asked for a much better start.
Kroehnkes No. 2-ranked Wheaton Warrenville South Tigers scored the games first 7 points, raced out to a 22-point halftime lead on Rockford Boylan and coasted home to a 70-44 win in the season opener at the Schaumburg Tournament.
Its a good start, Kroehnke said. We didnt win anything today, but we had a good start.
Meghan Waldron, who led the Tigers to a 28-4 season and a sectional final last year, picked right up where she left off.
WW Souths do-all junior point guard scored 14 points, pulled down 11 rebounds, dished out 7 assists and had 5 steals in three quarters of action. Waldron scored the Tigers first three baskets.
Weve been working hard in practice, and we really dedicated ourselves in the offseason too, Waldron said. I think we still need more time to click. Were not there yet, but it will come.
WW South went 5-0 at Schaumburg last year for the first time under Kroehnke, and Tuesdays game was over early.
Pressuring Boylan led to easy scores at the other end, and everybody got into the act. Eight players scored in the first half, when WW South shot a blistering 81 percent from the field.
I was very impressed with our intensity in the first half, Kroehnke said. We set the tone with our pressure, and thats what we have to do. We did what we wanted to do. Shooting was outstanding.
Sierra Bisso added 10 points and Maggie Dansdill 9 for the Tigers, who got a big boost off the bench from their aggressive backup posts.
Junior Melinda Franke and sophomore Olivia Linebarger each scored 12 points and had 4 rebounds apiece.
Olivia and Melinda have a year experience now, and thats the key, Kroehnke said. We knew we had something last year with them, but they were new coming into games. We knew what we had coming back. Its nice to have that option coming off the bench.
The competition will get tougher as the week goes on. WW South plays Glenbrook South Thursday, then meets up with Montini on Saturday in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup. The game has tentatively been moved to 11 a.m. because Montinis football team plays at 1 p.m. that day.
Wheaton Warrenville South High
Conference: DuPage Valley
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