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Bambule, Montini cruise to league win

Montini has soared to a 20-0 record this girls basketball season, and junior guard Kaylee Bambule is just beginning to feel like herself again.

That's not a good sign for Broncos opponents.

Bambule suffered a severe high ankle sprain in late September and didn't play for the Broncos this season until Dec. 1.

"I feel like I'm back into things," Bambule said. "It took a long time, but finally it feels pretty good."

Montini coach Jason Nichols said Bambule played throughout December, but she's only the past week or two starting to play like she did last year.

"After the (holiday) break, yeah, she's been better," he said, ticking off point totals that include three double-digit scoring nights in the past four. "She's starting to get some consistency in what she's doing."

Bambule said she still isn't 100 percent.

"It's going to be there for a little bit, but there's nothing you can do about it," she said.

Bambule hit four of her six 3-point shots to score 12 points in the Broncos' 70-30 GCAC Red victory against St. Ignatius on Wednesday night in Lombard. It was a sign she's getting her shooting stroke and fitness back.

"I know what she's capable of, but that injury and that amount of time off, it takes a lot of time to get back to who you are," Nichols said. "It's coming. It's starting to come."

The Broncos' leading scorer and a Daily Herald All-Area player last year, Bambule is developing into a key part of the Broncos' bench squad this year as she works back into shape and finds her rhythm with her shot.

"That's a huge thing, especially losing (freshman guard Zoe Zacker to a knee injury). We'll see if we stay that way," Nichols said.

Whether Bambule remains on the bench or re-enters the starting lineup will be determined as she improves.

"I really haven't thought about it much because we're rolling," said Nichols, whose team is ranked top 10 nationally, No. 1 in Class 4A in Illinois and is 6-0 in the new conference. "Do you fix what's not broken? Do you put a kid back in that has been a starter for the last two years and been good at it? It's tough for a coach to make that decision. I struggle with it. It may happen, it may not. We'll see."

The Broncos were rolling right from the start of Wednesday's game. They made six of their seven 3-pointers in the first period and took a 30-6 lead. They finished 16 of 28 from behind the arc. They put up 70 points without shooting a free throw, in part because they committed just 2 turnovers through the first three quarters.

"We're a team that can do this," Bambule said. "When we don't (shoot the 3) we go to the basket and make them there. Off the bench or start, it doesn't matter. With so many people, we're dangerous."

Nikki Oppenheimer led the way with 15 points, all on 3-pointers. Center Lindsey Jarosinski joined Bambule with 12 points but added 4 blocks. Lea Kerstein scored 10, and guard Tiara Wallace contributed 5 points, 8 assists, 8 rebounds and 3 steals.

Follow Orrin on Twitter @Orrin_Schwarz

Images: Montini vs. St. Ignatius girls basketball

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