At Christmas, West Aurora was just another 5-5 team struggling to keep its head above .500. After a 65-51 victory over Elgin Saturday, the Blackhawks are 17-6 with a 10-game winning streak. ”There were glimpses at the time
(when West was 5-5) of us getting better,” said coach Mark Proctor. ”We just started out slowly getting our timing down, working in new people and getting our offense and defense to jell.”
The catalyst to the turnaround has been junior forward Melinda Spearman. She`s averaging close to 22 points a game, and her 26 points and 15 rebounds led West past then No. 7-ranked East Aurora 62-51 Thursday night.
”She`s not a surprise,” Proctor said of the three-year starter. ”Where she has become more dangerous is handing out assists. She also has improved her defense and rebounding.”
Spearman isn`t alone in her improved play. Juniors Tricia Passley, Tiki Massie and Amy Periman have picked their games up a notch, and senior Loan Mai has settled the previously unsettled point guard situation. Periman, who plays on the boys soccer team at West, didn`t play last year.
”I had to ask her to come out for the team,” said Proctor.
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She has to be glad she did.
– St. Edward tuned up for the upcoming state tournament with a convincing 79-66 victory Tuesday over previously unbeaten Montini. The victory avenged an earlier 66-54 loss at Montini. ”We`re playing better defensively,” said coach Ken Mattini, whose teams traditionally pressure the ball 32 minutes a game. The Green Wave has gone 16-2 since losing five straight games in the Buffalo Grove Thanksgiving tournament. Seniors Stacey Karom, Jackie Robinson and Meg Hasenmiller have sparked the resurgence. ”They`ve been through the war,” said Mattini. ”They know what it`s like to lose and how to bounce back and win.”
GYMNASTICS
For Downers South, chasing Addison in conference meets has been somewhat of a preoccupation. Despite the fact that the Mustangs scored 143.8 in a triangular meet with Downers Grove North and Glenbard West earlier this season, Addison prevailed Saturday.