Friars outgunned by St. Louis powerhouse

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Updated: February 20, 2012 8:46AM

Fenwick’s Run & Gun offense was outgunned Monday in the McDonald’s Shootout at Willowbrook.

St. Joseph in St. Louis, which is ranked No. 1 in Class 5A by stltoday.com, outshot, outrebounded and outplayed the No. 13 Friars for a 78-46 victory behind 31 points from 6-foot-3 junior center Sydney Stipanovich, the niece of former Missouri star and Pacers center Steve Stipanovich.

Stipanovich, who had only 10 points at halftime, scored 13 points in the third quarter to give the Angels (16-2) a 63-43 lead in Villa Park.

Stipanovich also led all other players with 10 rebounds, three blocks and five steals.

“We were prepared for that (offense),” Stipanovich said. “We knew they were a good team. They’re fast and we tried to keep up with them. We were prepared for their fastbreak.”

Fenwick (13-5), which was already missing reserve Mary Devereaux (broken left wrist), played for the first time without starter Marek Burchett, who is day-to-day with tendinitis in her calf. The Friars entered the game averaging 75.8 points this season, but didn’t even come close to their normal total of nearly 90 shots per game by shooting 18-for-64 from the floor. Leading scorer Meredith Boardman, who played in front of future assistant coach Allison Guth of Yale, scored only six points on 3-of-14 shooting.

Margaret Reilly scored a team-high 15 points on 5-of-14 shooting on three-pointers and Jade Owens, who celebrated her 16th birthday Monday, added 13 points. Paige Corvino scored all 10 of her points in the second half for Fenwick.

Three of the Angels’ other starters, all 5-11 or taller, enjoyed success against the shorter Friars. Erin Nelson had 17 points and the Missouri-bound, 6-foot Stock twins contributed with Maddie’s 10 points and Morgan’s eight points.

“All of them were taller than us,” Owens said. “The mismatch was theirs. In the first half, I think we did what we were supposed to do.”

The Friars suffered their biggest loss of the season compared to a 53-32 defeat to Loyola Dec. 1 when Fenwick played without Boardman, who was suspended that game. The loss to St. Joseph was the second lowest scoring total of the season for the Friars after the Loyola defeat.

“We couldn’t make easy layups. Our shooting was so bad,” Fenwick coach Dave Power said. “They are probably the state champions of Missouri. I can’t say we would have won (if healthy), but it could have been a better game.”

The Angels shot 32-for-69 from the floor and made 10-of-13 free throws led by Nelson’s 7-of-8 at the line. St. Joseph beat No. 19 Marian Catholic 59-57 on Saturday night in its first of two games in the Chicago area over the weekend. St. Joseph coach Julie Matheny earned her 300th career win over Illinois’ No. 2 leader in career wins for girls basketball. Power has more than 800 victories.

St. Joseph led 21-16 early in the second quarter and then scored 12 consecutive points as part of a 16-3 run to open a 37-19 lead.

To start the second half, Reilly made three three-pointers as the Friars traded baskets, but the junior guard missed at least five more three-point attempts the rest of the game.