Girls Basketball: Joliet Catholic defeats Rich East
By Tina Akouris takouris@suntimes.com January 30, 2013 10:36PM
Joliet Catholic's Jasmine Lumpkin (left) puts a shot up against Rich East's Myriah Pair during their basketball game in Park Forest Wednesday, January 30, 2013. | Brett Roseman~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 2, 2013 7:10AM
Destiny Nash scored all of her 15 points in the second half, all off the bench, as visiting Joliet Catholic defeated Rich East 64-39 Wednesday night in Park Forest.
Nash even made a headlong dive for a loose ball, knocking over half of the Rich East bench in the process.
“I just went off, because I knew I had to do something for my team,” Nash said. “We hadn’t been looking 100 percent lately as far as conditioning goes. You have to be used to the (physicality), too, and get used to it now before the playoffs start.”
Nicole Ekhomu led the Angels (21-4) with 17 points. Rich East (8-15) was led by Gelina Webb’s 12 points.
Joliet Catholic cruised through the first half, leading 30-13 at intermission. The Angels were buoyed by 12 first-half points from Jasmine Lumpkin and 11 from Ekhomu.
Lumpkin fouled out at the 5:45 mark of the third quarter and finished with 14 points.
Even though Lumpkin was in foul trouble for most of the first half and into the third quarter, coach Ed Schodrof left her in the game.
“I left her in the game intentionally, because Iowa and Michigan State were here and I tried to leave her in there as much as possible for her benefit — and the team’s benefit,” Schodrof said. “But I knew some other people could step up.”
Lumpkin is averaging about 19 points and 13 rebounds per game this season.
“I’m trying to extend the bench, and if someone like Jasmine gets in foul trouble then someone will have to step up,” Schodrof said. “We’ve been playing with a 10-girl roster, and we have three additional freshman we pulled up. We’re trying to go with a 13-girl roster.”
