Powe powers Warren past Mundelein

The big, jet-black, curly hair makes Trenise Powe look taller than her listed 5 feet 8.

Actually, the Warren senior basketball player says she stands only 5-4 or 5-5.

"Without the hair," she added, smiling.

Don't let the smile fool you. The sister of former Warren football stars/college linebackers Jerry (Lafayette College) and Jalen (Western Illinois University) Powe, she say she learned to "be tough" from her brothers. Her twin, Jarrett, used to play football, she explains, but is now into welding.

"I'm the only girl in the family so I have to be tough," Powe said.

The forward gave proof of her toughness Friday night in Gurnee. Powe scored 8 of her 12 points in the first quarter and added 7 rebounds and 5 steals, as Warren defeated visiting Mundelein 55-31 in North Suburban Conference action.

"We're not as big as we have been (the last couple of years) with Dana and Breleigh," said coach John Stanczykiewicz, whose Blue Devils graduated 6-footers Dana Lundtveit and Breleigh Gula. " 'T' has the game of a post but has some of the athleticism of a perimeter player. She's been able to take advantage of that at times during the course of the season so far. That's a big plus for us."

Mundelein's Colgate-bound Morgan Frank led all scorers with 17 points, including a 3-pointer.

Warren (2-5, 1-1) played without starting shooting guard Caroline Sharpe and key reserve Kelsey McGraw, both of whom missed the game due to illness. Micaila Kline, who started the first two games of the season, has been out with a concussion.

Then midway through the opening quarter against Mundelein (0-7, 0-2), Warren starting point guard Jesette Ezernack injured her ankle and did not return.

Powe picked it up, sinking 3 of 4 shots from the floor and going 2 of 3 from the foul line in helping the Blue Devils build a 12-8 lead after one quarter.

"We had some top players missing tonight so I knew I had to step my game up," said Powe, one of the Blue Devils' vocal leaders. "Not only for them, but for my teammates, off and on the floor."

Warren freshman guard Zion Levy contributed 11 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals. Her 9 points, including a 3-pointer, in the second quarter helped the home team stretch its lead to 29-13 by halftime.

"When Jesette went out, she knew she had to step her game up," Powe said. "I think she did a really nice job carrying us."

It was Levy's first start.

"Zion had a good game," Stanczykiewicz said. "She's a talented kid. There's a lot of potential with her."

Macey Kocen tied Powe for team-high scoring honors, sinking a pair of 3-pointers as part of her 12-point effort. Sophomore Angie Truelsensank two 3s off the bench. Grace Lynch, a 6-1 sophomore forward, had 7 points and 6 rebounds for the Blue Devils. She started playing basketball in the eighth grade.

"She's been a revelation for us," Stanczykiewicz said. "Every game she gets a little bit better. She's a nice physical player, she has good athleticism, she has good length, she's very aware of what's going on, and she has good skills around the basket."