The Trinity girls basketball team had a week off after losing its first game of the season.
The Blazers fell to Benet in the championship game of the Montini Holiday Tournament on Dec. 30, but returned to action better than ever. They beat Mother McAuley 71-33 and Downers Grove North 61-33, and their improvement makes sense considering three freshmen are making major contributions.
A fourth is on the way.
Trinity coach Ed Stritzel hopes to have Lauren Lee back from a tailbone injury for Monday’s game against Joliet Catholic in the McDonald’s Shootout at Willowbrook.
Fellow freshmen Alex Fanning, Alisa Fallon and Daliyah Brown are already playing significant roles in the 14-1 Blazers’ success.
“Lauren Lee is such a dynamic player,” Stritzel said. “She’s going to allow Annie McKenna to go to her natural position at two-guard. Lauren is a pure point guard, and that will give McKenna more looks.
“I like to say we have three (freshmen) starters right now, and when Lauren Lee comes, we will have four of them. We have balance in the lineup. We have four freshmen that can start for us this year.”
Stritzel is pleased with the way his senior captain and daughter, Patricia Stritzel, has adjusted to the talented newcomers.
“Patricia has embraced her role,” Ed Stritzel said. “She’s a floor captain. She’s a real solid player and defers to kids because she’s not the leading scorer. She defends, rebounds and loves her role.”
The future is obviously bright at Trinity, but the Blazers are understandably in win-now mode.
“I’ve had some really good teams and players at Trinity, and when those kids graduate, I think people expect Trinity to take a step back, but I think it really fires these kids up,” Stritzel said. “I feel good about the season. Someone will have to play really well to beat us when we have Lauren back and another month of playing together. I’m real excited for our future.”
