Westminster Christian downs rival Elgin Academy
By Gene Chamberlain For Sun-Times Media February 2, 2012 9:06PM
Westminster Christian's McKaila Hays drives against Elgin Academy's Ashley Barnes on Thursday at Westminster in Elgin. | Kevin D. Sherman ~ For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: April 3, 2012 10:14AM
Westminster Christian continued to play without injured star junior post player Porsche Griggs Thursday in a home nonconference battle with Elgin Academy
For much of the game, the Warriors played without much offense, as well. But what they did have was their full-court press and eventually the offense came around for a 36-16 victory.
“We have nights where we shoot the ball well — tonight wasn’t one of them,” Westminster Christian coach Ken Flickinger said.
“But when we play good defense, it always leads to us having more success on the offensive end.”
Griggs twisted her knee Jan. 28 in a showdown for the conference title that the Warriors lost to Illinois Math and Science, 46-36.
They lost their next game without her, 67-47 to Rockford Christian Wednesday, and have one regular-season game before going into their own regional as top seed.
“She had an MRI today just to be safe,” Flickinger said. “She’s probably going to be gone for at least a week. But we’re optimistic we’ll have her back by the end of next week.”
That would put Griggs back on the court by the Class 1A regional finals, if not earlier.
On Thursday, the Warriors (18-8) got nine points, four rebounds and four steals from sophomore Claire Speweik, seven points from sophomore Kinsley Donahue, and six from sophomore Elizabeth Meschewski.
They shot just 28 percent from the floor (16-of-58).
But the Warriors compensated by forcing 28 turnovers and limiting the Hilltoppers to only 29 field goal attempts for the game.
Elgin Academy stayed within 9-4 after a quarter, and trailed 20-9 at halftime.
But scored only a point in the third quarter.
“Our coach said to make better cuts on offense and we did that, and then we were running well,” Speweik said. “Our press worked well tonight, too.”
Elgin Academy (4-13), which also plays in the Westminster Class 1A Regional, had five points from Ashley Barnes and four from Angie Martinez.
“I’m biased because she’s my player but I think Ashley is the best player in our conference,” said Elgin Academy coach Charles Porter.
“She’s a senior and we’ll be losing her, but she does so much and helps make the other players better.”
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