PHOTOS: Crean Lutheran earns big league win before losing Saturday match-up

Crean Lutheran’s Sydnee Norwood attempts a jump shot as Esperanza’s Kylie Chen and Charlotte Muller defend Friday. (Photos courtesy Crean Lutheran Shutterbugs, John Luciano and Howard Lyon).

Crean Lutheran High School’s girls basketball team, which notched a big Crestview League road victory over Esperanza Friday, is back home Tuesday to host Sunny Hills at 5:30 p.m. in another league game.

The Saints (17-3, 2-0) defeated Esperanza 62-43 Friday night and then lost to Villa Park 45-34 in the Tony Matson Classic Saturday at Orange Lutheran.

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

Crean Lutheran’s Emma Goley attempts a three pointer over Esperanza’s Ellie Frazier.

Crean Lutheran’s Jordyn Norwood leads a fast break as Esperanza’s Alexa Muller pursues.

Esperanza’s Charlotte Muller uses a screen to get by Crean Lutheran’s Micaela Hanning.

Crean Lutheran’s Elise Randolph pulls up for a jump shot against Esperanza’s Charlotte Muller

Crean Lutheran’s Micaela Hanning drives the baseline against Esperanza’s Emily Min.

Crean Lutheran’s Jane Hewitt guards Esperanza’s Janelle Miyatake.

Esperanza’s Alexa Muller shoots over Crean Lutheran’s Jordyn Norwood.

Crean Lutheran’s Elise Randolph goes up for a layup.

Crean Lutheran players and coaches react to a play.

In the win over Esperanza, Sydnee Norwood scored 26 points, Micaela Hanning 16 points and Jordyn Norwood nine points to lead the way for the Saints.

“The foundation and identity of this team is our defense and our defensive intensity based on our scout and our matchups,” said Crean Lutheran Coach Kyle Rouse. “We started the game slow once again which is becoming a common theme that we need to fix, however the second half for us again was a huge half, fueled by our defense. Points off turnovers were a big category for us in the second half and that’s what helped open up the big lead in the second half.”

In Saturday’s game against Villa Park. Sydnee Norwood and Hanning each had 10 points and Elise Randolph six points for the Saints.

“The theme of this game and what was said after the game by our staff was ‘this was an avoidable lesson,'” Rouse said.

“What was meant by that is we have been talking a lot about our slow starts and how soon enough it will come back to bite us and it did on Saturday. Villa Park is a solid team and the hole we dug ourselves in the first half was too big to get out of, even though we came back to cut it to three in the fourth quarter. Our group needs to figure out how to start games like we finish them and play a consistent 32 minutes.”