As Lyons Township High School junior girls basketball player Emma O’Brien came to the bench during a timeout late in the third quarter Nov. 27, junior teammate Anna Bigenwald wondered.

“What’s your career high (for points)?” Bigenwald asked.

“Thirty-one,” O’Brien answered.

“Well, you’re about to get it,” Bigenwald said.

That’s how O’Brien realized she was on her way to a single-game best 33 points as the Lions rolled past Lane Tech 69-52.

LTHS (5-0) then beat Conant 55-32 Saturday to again win its annual tournament with a 4-0 round-robin record. The Lions previously defeated Wheaton North 62-32 Nov. 23 and Oak Lawn 58-30 Nov. 22.

In 26 minutes against Lane, O’Brien made 11 of 15 shots, which included equaling her single-game best of five three-pointers on seven attempts, as well as 6 of 8 free throws. She also had four rebounds and a team-best six of the Lions’ 22 steals.

O’Brien’s previous single-game high was 31 points during last year’s tournament victory over Wheaton North.

“Other than (from Bigenwald), I didn’t notice,” said O’Brien, who already has received three Division I offers. 

“I had like 15 (points) at halftime. I shot pretty well and then just getting points in transition, just running the floor well worked for me. Overall, we’re just playing well as a team.” 

LTHS Players of the Game were O’Brien for Lane Tech and Oak Lawn, Gwen Smith (Conant) and Nora Ezike (Wheaton North).

Ezike (19 points, 11 rebounds, 4 steals), Smith (9 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals), Avery Mezan (6 points, 4 assists) and Tess Bernson (4 assists, 5 steals) also contributed to the victory over Lane.

Ezike (22 points), Smith (16 points with 2 threes, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals) and O’Brien (6 points) led the way against Conant.

Last season, Ezike scored 32 points against Glenbard West. 2005 graduate Mallory Heydorn holds the single-game school record with 39.

LTHS boys basketball

Guard Danny Janiszewski is among the Lyons Township boys basketball seniors playing significantly more varsity minutes this season.

“Fun would be the first word. Playing in front of a crowd is really fun,” Janiszewski said. “It’s a challenge. Varsity basketball’s hard. You have to work for every bucket. I find it fun.”

With every game, the inexperienced Lions hope to improve. 

Even though they were edged by Maine South 49-45 Nov. 27, in the final round of their annual LT Thanksgiving Tournament, they noticeably progressed from their 53-37 loss to Lincoln-Way East Nov. 26. LTHS (1-2) opened by beating Morton 60-26 Nov. 25. 

“We’re better today than we were yesterday and that’s the important thing,” said LTHS coach Tom Sloan after the Maine South game.

“The second half (against Lincoln-Way East) was OK. The first half was a learning experience for a lot of the guys. Lincoln-Way East and Maine South are very good teams and very physical. It was the first time our guys had been challenged physically like that and then adjusted in the second half.”

  • Lyons Township’s Ian Polonowski (35) drives the lane against Lincoln-Way East during the LTHS Boys Thanksgiving Tournament Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024 in La Grange. | Steve Johnston
  • Lyons Township’s Owen Carroll (5) pulls up for a shot against Lincoln-Way East during the LTHS Boys Thanksgiving Tournament Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024 in La Grange. | Steve Johnston
  • Lincoln-Way East’s Evan Riiff (4) guards Lyons Township’s Timmy Sloan (15) during the LTHS Boys Thanksgiving Tournament Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024 in La Grange. | Steve Johnston
  • Lincoln-Way East’s Jaymon Hornsby (11) defends Lyons Township’s Danny Janiszewski (10) as he drives to the basket during the LTHS Boys Thanksgiving Tournament Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024 in La Grange. | Steve Johnston
  • Lyons Township’s Bobby Vespa (40) moves the ball up court against Lincoln-Way East during the LTHS Boys Thanksgiving Tournament Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024 in La Grange. | Steve Johnston
  • Lincoln-Way East’s Wes Shelby (22) pulls down a rebound against Lyons Township’s Marshaun Russell (25) during the LTHS Boys Thanksgiving Tournament Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024 in La Grange. | Steve Johnston

Senior Ian Polonowski (9 rebounds, 4 assists), the only returnee with significant varsity experience, and Janiszewski each had 13 points against Maine South, followed by senior Bobby Vespa (9 points, 7 rebounds), junior Owen Carroll (5 points) and sophomore Timmy Sloan (4 points). 

The Lions overcame an early deficit to only trail 24-22 at halftime. Neither team had more than a two-possession lead most of the second half.

“Today, we were a lot more physical. We were right with (Maine South). We had a lead with three, two minutes left. Lack of experience kind of got in the way,” Janiszewski said. 

“Just knowing that you’re going to get bumped, pushed shoved, now that you know and you’ve experienced it, you’re kind of just fine with it and you dish it back, too. Some shots just didn’t fall for us at the end.”

Carroll (8 points), Polonowski (7 points, 5 rebounds), Janiszewski (7 points), Vespa (6 points) and Sloan (4 rebounds) also were stats leaders against Lincoln-Way East, which dominated the first half.

“I’m pleased with our chemistry, camaraderie, the effort, competitive spirit,” Sloan said. 

“We were able to stay in a really tight game (with Maine South). Now we’ve just got to now clean up the little, bitty things that can get us over the hump in a game like that. We made a lot of progress.”