After hot spell, Beecher can't find the basket

The go-to scorer for the Beecher Ladycats, guard Kim Wilkoz, had been on a tear, scoring at least 20 points in five straight games, all of them wins.

With Jenna Wehling consistently scoring in double digits, the senior combo has given coach Ken Akerman a solid 1-2 punch.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

On Monday night in a nonconference home game against Peotone, Wilkoz and Wehling were the offense for the Ladycats, combining to score 31 of the team's 36 points.

It wasn't enough: Peotone claimed a 48-36 win.

While Wilkoz and Wehling again handled the bulk of the scoring for the Ladycats, Akerman expected more out of his squad after it won the Hanover holiday tournament.

"We're going to see that, and we saw that at the Hanover tournament, but they were still able to score (in tourney play) because they had better shot selection and we made better decisions as a team," Akerman said. "Overall, I'm disappointed with the way we played tonight. It was not the way we've been playing most of the season."

Wilkoz finished with 16 points and nine rebounds for Beecher (11-4), while Wehling tallied 15 points and 11 rebounds.

The momentum from winning the Hanover tournament over Christmas break seemed to carry over early as Beecher went up 13-9 after one quarter.

But in an offensively challenged second frame, the Ladycats managed just four points, via a Wilkoz midrange jumper and a free throw each from Wehling and Carissa Boekeloo.

With the score tied at 17 with seconds to go in the half, Peotone's Jacqueline Ryan drilled a jumper to put the Blue Devils up two points at the break.

Beecher continued to struggle offensively in the third quarter, while Peotone's Anna Nugent scored with ease inside to help the Blue Devils pull away for good.

Two Wilkoz free throws brought Beecher to within 29-26 late in the third quarter, but Peotone's lead proved insurmountable.

Nugent finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds as the Ladycats could not find a defensive answer in the lane. Helping establish the inside presence, center Kelly Bisping racked up 12 points and 10 boards for the winners.

"They outhustled us, and we just didn't want it enough," Akerman said. "We didn't shuffle our feet well enough on defense. It just wasn't a good game for us."

With a possible rematch down the road - Peotone (11-6) hosts the Class 2A regional - Akerman just hopes his team can get things back on track.

"We knew coming into this game they were hosting the regional, and we needed to beat them or at least play a lot better than we did tonight," he said. "We didn't show up and do that. They outplayed us in every aspect of the game."

Providence Catholic 71 Plainfield Central 31

Brianne Vandenberg scored a game-high 23 points as Providence Catholic (9-9) rolled to the nonconference victory in New Lenox. Katie Hannemann aided the cause for the Celtics with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

GIRLS BOWLING

Rich South triangular

Crete-Monee had a pinfall total of 1,595 in besting Bremen (1,520) and Rich South (1,418) in the nonconference meet at Lakewood Bowl in Richton Park.

Rachel Exo led the way for Crete-Monee with a 191 game and 380 series over two games. Jenna Sinish had a 189 game and 326 series for Bremen, while Elyse Anderson paced Rich South with a 183 game and 322 series.

BOYS BOWLING

Reavis 2,033, Lincoln-Way North 2,004

Scott Dever recorded a two-game series of 463 in leading Reavis (7-5) to the nonconference win at El-Mar Bowl in Bridgeview. Bruce Smith added a 258 game and 460 series for the Rams.

Lincoln-Way North's Jon DeAngelis paced all competitors with a 265 game and 476 series.

Oak Lawn 1,956, Bolingbrook 1,911

Tim Fischer bowled a 440 series and Bob Reynolds added a 416 series as Oak Lawn triumphed in the nonconference dual at Palos Lanes in Palos Hills.

COMMITMENT

Sam Formella, a senior defender on the Lockport girls soccer team, has announced that she will attend St. Xavier.

Contributing: Correspondent Josh Krockey