Girls Basketball: Nicki Monahan’s 28 powers Portage

Updated: December 30, 2011 10:45PM

ST. JOHN — Portage coach Chris Seibert received an extra Christmas present five days after he celebrated the holiday with his wife and 20-month-old daughter.

The present was delivered by Seibert’s players as the Red Indians (4-11, 2-6) upset Lake Central (6-6, 3-4) in a Duneland Athletic Conference matchup Friday night, 57-51.

“We finally played consistently for four quarters,’’ Seibert said. “Lake Central is a very well-coached, physical team. I thought for us to win, we needed to match their intensity. I thought we went out and did that tonight.’’

Nicki Monahan scored a game-high 28 points to lead Portage, while Alyssa Tampier tossed in 13.

“This is a big win for us, no question,’’ Seibert said. “In the majority of our games this season, we’ve been right there.’’

Monahan swished three of her four 3-point baskets in the opening quarter and scored 12 points to stake Portage to a 14-10 lead.

Portage increased its lead to 26-17 at the half and led by as much as 11 in the second half.

Monahan scored 17 of her 28 points in the first half.

“It’s a great win for us in starting the new year right,’’ she said. “We’re getting ready to start the second round of the DAC and I think good things are going to start happening.

“I just came out here tonight and wanted to win. We needed a win after going 1-3 at the (Northridge Tournament). Our team set really good screens and everyone contributed.”

It was a bitter defeat for LC, which scored only 17 points in the first half and just seven in the second period.

“We’re not hitting the big shots when we need to,’’ LC coach Leslie Iwema said. “It was frustrating because shots just weren’t going in. If you score only 17 points in a half, you’re not going to beat too many teams. We have to start scoring.

“We play hard, but we have a lot of growth that has to be made.”

Jessica Bell led LC with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Nikki Adams and Lizzie Seymour had 11 and 10 points, respectively.

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