Inside girls basketball
Athlete of the week
Melissa Dixon
Johnsburg, jr.
Dixon, a guard, scored her 1,000th career point Saturday against Maine West with three minutes remaining in regulation, helping the Skyhawks to a 74-39 victory in the first round of the Dundee-Crown Charger Classic.
Dixon scored 98 total points in Johnsburg’s four tournament games, including a career-high 34 points Wednesday in a 68-51 victory against Prospect that gave the Skyhawks third place in the tournament – their highest finish in the event.
Noteworthy
Decided: Huntley forward Amanda Wisniewski has given a verbal commitment to play softball next fall at Valparaiso, according to a news release from her travel softball team, the Wasco Diamonds.
Wisniewski’s versatility last spring helped Huntley advance to a Class 4A sectional semifinal, where they lost to Hononegah. Wisniewski can play infield or outfield, but she started most games at shortstop last season.
Wisniewski has started and come off the bench this season for the Red Raiders basketball team. Valpo plays in the Horizon League and went 25-24 last season.
Other key performances: Jacobs’ Maria Tamburrino scored 13 points Monday in a win against Oak Park-River Forest and dumped in 24 against Lake Park in a double-overtime victory Tuesday. She finished the tournament with 17 points in a win against Chicago Marshall on Wednesday. ... Cary-Grove’s Claire Jakubicek scored 17 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had three steals in a 51-45 loss to Libertyville on Saturday in the championship game of the Mundelein Holiday Classic. Cary-Grove finished second, and Jakubicek and teammate Liz Bart were named to the All-Tournament team. ... Huntley’s Rachel Chapuis scored 15 in a win against Vernon Hills during the final day of the Mundelein Holiday Classic. ... Prairie Ridge completed its solid showing in the Mundelein Holiday Classic with a fourth-place finish, led by Emily Bruksch’s 16 points in a loss to Rockford Auburn.
This week’s
can’t-miss games
Jacobs at Crystal Lake South 7 p.m. Tuesday
The Golden Eagles are fresh off a fifth-place finish in the Wheaton North Classic and a seventh-place finish in the Montini Holiday Tournament. South took first in the Northern Illinois Holiday Classic on Dec. 23.
McHenry at Cary-Grove
7 p.m. Tuesday
The Warriors are adamant they not be overlooked this season and are making a good case for themselves. It will be C-G’s first FVC Valley Division game without point guard Meg Straumann, who tore her left ACL on Dec. 19.
Johnsburg at Grayslake Central
7 p.m. Tuesday
Both teams are playing solid ball, and if any team in the FVC Fox is going to stop the Skyhawks, it will be the Rams.
Marengo at Hampshire
7 p.m. Thursday
The Indians look to upset the Whip-Purs, who are the area’s only undefeated team at 13-0.
– Maureen Lynch
mlynch@nwherald.com