Varsity:

Your Varsity Lady Spartans are en route to finish the season in a three-way tie for 3rd place in district with a chance to go to the playoffs for the first time in seven years! They currently sit at 7-6 with the last game on Wednesday at home vs. Northbrook. You should definitely come recognize this group of seniors on Senior Night!

Head Coach Alexis Green badly wanted a win on Saturday vs. Cy-Creek to bolster their post-season opportunities, but it was one of those days where some questionable officiating did not go the Spartans way and beautifully arched three-point shots rimmed out repeatedly. The bigger and faster Cougars took advantage of an overall rough-shooting day by Stratford. Freshman guard Rachel Ashby came out hot in the first quarter with two three-pointers and Senior shooter Audrey Hernandez knocked in one as well and it felt like the 11-1 in-district Cougars were going to be tested. But after that the points came primarily from Hernandez (three treys total overall, 11 points total) and Senior Jasmine Green (15 points, 13 rebounds). Ashby finished with nine points and Junior Maggie Parker hauled in eight rebounds

Coach Green is building the foundation of a program and that usually comes in increments. While Stratford lost 48-30 to Memorial on Wednesday, it was an improvement from the last time the teams met. The Spartans' defense held Memorial to a district season-low 48 points, five better than the 53 (previous low) that the Mustangs scored against Cy-Creek! Non-Seniors Ashby (Fr), JaKyla Cheeves (Jr), Parker (Jr), Lily McClanahan (Jr) and Olivia Zander (Jr) were key contributors and have been all season, with other talented players pushing each other in practice and waiting in the wings. For the game Jaz Green grabbed 14 rebounds and Hernandez led with eight points.

JV:

The Junior Varsity also sits at 7-6 in district and may end the season in 4th place. Saturday's game vs. Cy-Creek came closer to resembling a MMA match than a basketball game. The Cougars used the same size and speed that the varsity displayed to bump, push, pull, and at one point swing at the Spartans. JV has some tough players, but they weren't ready for the octagon and fell 47-21. It didn't help that key contributor Kendall Zoboroski (Sophomore) picked up two early fouls and missed the rest of the first half and Junior post player Evynn Stallwitz is sidelined with an injury. Junior Lilah Epps and Sophomore Ella O'Connor each scored six to lead the team. 

The Spartans put together one of their best games of the season last time they faced Memorial, and they took down their arch-rival in the process. They faced the Mustangs again on Wednesday and clawed back from a first-half deficit of as much as eight points to close it to one. But the points were much harder to obtain in the second half, and the Spartans fell 45-32. Sophomore Ella Pezzia fueled the second quarter rally and led the team with nine points, seven rebounds and five steals. Zoboroski followed with eight points, all in the first half, plus eight rebounds. Epps had two points and seven rebounds.

Freshman:

The Freshman team is one game away from being the undefeated District Champs! Cy-Creek's freshmen did not have the same size as their varsity or JV sisters and the Spartans attacked with stellar guard play from Megan Hallmark, Katherine Cronin and Chassity Mandley. Between the trio, they limited turnovers, moved the ball, and kept the Cougars defense on their heels. Sophia Phongsy had a big week, leading the team in points scored, including 13 in this game. Emily Graydon scored seven. Cronin and Kendall Davis each scored six. 

You gotta love a Spartans team that is undefeated against Memorial and that's what the freshmen are, winning 47-36 on Wednesday. Phongsy knocked in 11 points. Davis followed with 10. Autum Rutz scored eight.