With win, Westmont girls basketball still alive in the league

They weren't at their best, and they were still able to win.

Despite 24 turnovers, despite 10-of-19 free throw shooting in the second half, Westmont's girls basketball team was still able to turn back Dwight's second-half charge for a 55-52 win Monday.

With the win, the Sentinels improved to 11-7 overall and 6-2 in the Interstate Eight Conference ahead of the mid-season conference tournament that runs from Jan. 9-17. The victory also kept Westmont alive for a conference title.

"We still have a shot at conference," head coach Mike McCord said. "We still have the tougher part of our conference schedule to play, but we have a shot. We just have to play smarter."

With freshman Anne Carlson and sophomore Mara Casper handling much of the guard duties, McCord said turnovers have haunted the Sentinels all season. But Casper also gives as good as she gets. She had four steals which led to three easy transition layups plus a pair of free throws late in the game as she finished with 10 points. Casper and Carlson continue to improve as the season progresses.

"They're really improved," senior center Susie Sternard said. "There were huge expectations for them, and I'm really glad with how they stepped up the last couple months."

Sternard poured in a game-high 21 points, but even still McCord said the Sentinels should have kept calling her number.

"Susie had 10 points in the first quarter for us," the coach said. "She should have had the ball in her hands a lot more."

Senior forward Amanda Anderson came up big in the fourth quarter. She scored five of her nine points in the frame, including a three-point play with 2:06 left after Dwight had leveled the score at 46-46. Junior guard Hailey Lechelt drained both ends of a 1-and-1 with 1:32 to play to bump the lead to 51-46. All in all, nine different players scored, highlighting a team strength as the Sentinels build up toward the playoffs, which begin Feb. 4.

"I'm getting more confident in more people," McCord said. "They've showed me something and they're giving me something each game when they're out there."

In addition to tremendous depth, the 6-foot-1 Sternard, 5-10 Megan Seratt and 5-8 Anderson have size that few teams can match on either end of the floor.

"I think our defense is coming along as a team," Sternard said. "Our press has been pretty good and we're able to get back and help out if somebody breaks the press."

Rival Lisle, Seneca and Coal City lurk on the regular season I-8 schedule after the tournament, and the Sentinels will look to build some momentum ahead of the playoffs.

After the Interstate Eight tournament, they have a little over two weeks before to get ready for the postseason. They will be able to stay close to home for the playoffs as they compete in Elmhurst at the Immaculate Conception regional, and if they win there they move on to the Lisle sectional.

Next game
Westmont vs. Sandwich
What: Interstate Eight Conference tournament game
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10
Where: Wilmington High School, 209 Wildcat Court, Wilmington