Lyons’ Nora Ezike made her case for best player in the area this week with an MVP showing at the Montini Christmas Tournament, punctuated by a 40-point performance in a victory against Prospect.
A Stanford commit, Ezike has an impressive blend of power and speed that makes her hard to stop on drives. She lifts the ceiling for Lyons.
The triumvirate of Ezike, junior Emma O’Brien and Gwen Smith makes Lyons formidable.
Benet keeps rolling
Benet has won 14 in a row after dropping its first game against Lyons. The Redwings were impressive at Montini.
It’s not surprising that Benet is one of the best teams in the area after returning 12 players from last year’s 25-8 team. Senior guard Aria Mazza is a knockdown shooter and a reliable scoring threat.
Benet’s impressive depth and cohesiveness make it an upper-echelon team. In the Redwings’ 67-64 win against Fremd in the Montini tourney championship game, they had four players in double figures. Mazza and junior guard Bridget Rifenburg led Benet with 18 points.
Brown commit Lindsay Harzich joined teammate Mazza on the all-tournament team. Harzich has a calming effect on Benet. She always seems to make a three-pointer at the opportune time.
1,000 points
Ezike, St. Ignatius senior forward Reganne Reardon and Prospect junior forward Alli Linke surpassed the 1,000-point mark last week.
Reardon has developed a great deal from last season. She’s playing confidently, and her team always tries to find her when she’s in the paint. She makes difficult catches and can finish with either hand, which allows her to get easy baskets.
Linke is one of the best athletes in the area. She can run the floor with most guards. Her second jump is so quick that it allows her to follow her misses and draw fouls on put-backs. The Knights will need Linke as they face Loyola, Maine South and Benet in January.
Freshman to watch
It hasn’t been a good season for St. Laurence (3-11), which was without guard Aaliyah Flores last week. But a bright spot has emerged for the Vikings in freshman Marlee-Michelle Coleman, who scored 27 points in the Vikings’ win against Burlington Central.
Coleman, a high-scoring guard who doesn’t hog the ball, can make three-pointers or attack the rim.
But what makes her stand out even more is her ability to affect the game defensively.
She blocked several shots at the Montini tourney and made an impact for St. Laurence despite all its injuries. Coleman will be a player to watch.
Here are the Super 25 girls basketball rankings for Dec. 29 (with record and last week’s ranking):
1.Benet (14-1) 3
Montini Christmas champ.
2. Kenwood (14-1) 2
On a 10-game winning streak.
3. Lyons (14-1) 1
Lost to Benet.
4. Fremd (14-3) 4
Lost in the Montini final.
5. St. Ignatius (11-2) 5
Lost to Normal.
6. Waubonsie Valley (14-1) 7
Won Wheaton North Tournament.
7. Loyola (13-2) 8
Won its tournament.
8. Young (6-5) 6
Lost game out of state.
9. Nazareth (12-2) 9
Won Sandburg Holiday Classic.
10. Maine South (13-3) 11
Playing for Dundee-Crown championship on Monday.
11. Prospect (12-3) 12
Fifth place at Montini.
12. Huntley (13-0) 15
Plays Maine South on Monday.
13. Glenbrook South (10-5) 18
Beat Downers Grove North.
14. Libertyville (12-4) 20
Won the Rustoleum Winter Classic.
15. Downers Grove North (11-5) 14
On a two-game losing streak.
16. Batavia (11-3) 13
Lost to Lake Zurich.
17. St. Charles East (11-4) 10
Seventh place at Montini.
18. St. Charles North (13-3) 16
Lost to Maine South.
19. Hinsdale Central (10-5) 19
Beat Barlett.
20. Marist (13-3) 25
Fourth place at Montini.
21. Montini (10-5) 17
Lost to Prospect.
22. Lake Zurich (10-6) NR
Lost in Loyola championship game.
23. Lockport (16-3) NR
Third place at Loyola.
24. Mother McAuley (10-6) 22
Lost to Libertyville.
25. Glenbrook North (12-3) 24
Beat Glenbard West.