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The Chisago Lakes girls finished the 2008 portion of their schedule by ending a six-game losing streak. They beat Irondale 59-54 Thursday, December 20 on the road.

The Wildcat press helped them build a 35-23 halftime lead as Megan Corradi and Summer Young led the Wildcat pressure with five steals each. However, CL had trouble defending the inside game.

"We continue to struggle guarding in the post, allowing Lyndsay Hicken to score 14 points in the first half. She finished with 24," said Wildcat head coach Craig Walker. Seniors Kori Sells and Brenna Coyle each had three fouls at the half and Sells picked up her fourth 29 seconds into the second half.

"With Kori on the bench, the Knights chipped away at the lead and cut it to two points a few different times," Walker continued. Hicken and Aleina Debelak scored 10 points each, including a combined 8-11 from the freethrow line, in the second half to lead the Irondale comeback.

The coach said Sells, "came back into the game at the 10 minute mark and stayed in the game, bringing a calming influence on the court and adding six points to keep the lead."

The Wildcats had a two-point lead when the Knights held the ball with 30 seconds remaining and tried to get the last shot. Wildcat Brenna Coyle played tough defense on Hicken and her shot was tipped out of bounds off Irondale. "Amanda Farrell received the inbounds pass from Whitney Tinjum and was pushed from behind, resulting in an intentional foul call with 12.1 seconds remaining," Walked explained

Farrell made the first foul shot, putting the 'Cats up by three. On the intentional foul, CL got the ball back at the spot of the foul and Corradi was fouled a second later. The senior co-captain made both of her free throws in the double bonus, giving the Wildcats a five-point advantage.

Irondale's three-point attempt was rebounded by Corradi, giving her 11 for the game and her second double-double (17 points, 13 rebounds vs. St. Francis) in three games and her third of the season.

"This was a big team win for us going in to the break," Walker added. "After playing the top five teams in the North Suburban and going 0-5, with a really terrible performance against Totino Grace, we needed this victory.

"After the game against Totino, we spoke to the players about commitment and what it means to be a varsity basketball player, both in the games and in practice. We really have only two players with significant varsity experience and it has started to show. Our young players and inexperienced seniors need to step up and I think many of them did tonight."

Walker continued, "Megan (Corradi) has been there all year and Kori (Sells) is working hard to adjust to an increased role offensively and defensively. Amanda Farrell is taking better care of the basketball and her decision-making is improving lately. Whitney (Tinjum) and Summer (Young) continue to improve on their decision making with the basketball.

"Both can do the job offensively. Whitney had 11 points. and eight rebounds tonight. Summer added 10 (4-4 shooting and five steals), but both need to take better care of the basketball. It's really unfortunate that we don't play another game for two weeks. But, this win gives us momentum for after break when we play the rest of the conference teams for the first time and start over with North Branch in conference play. The combined conference record for those teams is 4-22," Walker concluded.

SCORING SUMMARY

Chisago Lakes 35 24 59

Irondale 23 31 54

Amanda Farrell 6

Whitney Tinjum 11

Summer Young 10

Megan Corradi 17

Kori Sells 13

Brenna Coyle 2

Total 59

The Wildcats begin a four-game home stand tonight (Thursday, January 3) against Columbia Heights at 7:15. Tuesday, January 8, CL hosts Spring Lake Park at 5:30.

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