Chargers secure rivalry win

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:50AM

For the first time since 2002, Aurora Central Catholic beat its down-the-street rival, Rosary.

The Chargers won their fifth consecutive game with a 64-54 win over the Royals in a Suburban Christian Conference crossover Tuesday night.

"I couldn't be prouder of these kids, and I'm very proud to be the coach of the Chargers," ACC coach Mark Fitzgerald said. "There's a lot of history (between the two teams), and their eyes were like saucers (at the start of the game). I just wanted them to take a breath and relax ... I knew we had the personnel to compete with (Rosary) this year... they finally realized this is our game, this is our gym, this is our time."

"I can't even describe this - it's amazing," ACC's Katilyn Rosa added. "They've always beaten us. They are a really good team."

ACC (12-7, 3-2), which is just three wins away from tying the school record, ended the third with a 43-43 tie - the first one all game - after a pair of Jackie Cardona free throws with 21.9 seconds remaining in the quarter. Rosary (5-14, 2-3) had the lead most of the first three quarters. The Royals even led by as much as 23-13 in the second quarter and 33-27 at the break.

The Chargers, however, owned the fourth quarter. After the two teams took turns with the lead in the first two minutes, ACC took the lead for good after a three-pointer from Cardona, who finished with 18 points.

Rosary soon followed that with a bucket from Brenda Rocha (nine points, 11 rebounds) that tied the game at 48, but ACC went on an 11-1 run, led by four different players. Part of that run included an 8-0 surge, fueled by clutch free throws. The Chargers only missed one free throw in the final frame.

"We work on free throws a lot," Rosa said. "We have to get 7 out of 10 in practice. If we don't, we run. It takes us a little time to get it, but it pays off in the end."

"We outplayed them in the first half, the third quarter was even and in the fourth quarter, they outplayed us," Rosary coach Dave Beebe said. "They got us. We just couldn't score, we couldn't guard anybody, couldn't do much of anything. That's a credit to ACC."

ACC was led by Rosa, who finished with a game-high 19 points and eight rebounds. She and Rosary's post threat, Breann Maryanski, battled in the paint. Maryanski led the Royals with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

The Chargers were also led by Ashley Wilk (14 points), and the Royals had Courtney Bila chip in 11 points - six of which came from back-to-back three-pointers early in the game.

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