Schramek, Holmes and the "Redwing Depth Squad" hands hosts from York their first loss of season

Any girls varsity basketball team that faces the No.1-ranked Benet Academy in the 2019-20 campaign has a pair of major obstacles to overcome.

Obstacle one - Benet Academy's senior dynamic-duo of DePaul-bound Kendall Holmes and Wisconsin-bound

Brooke Schramek.

Obstacle 2 - The vaunted Redwing second-unit.

Throwing wave upon-wave of Redwings at the previously undefeated hosts from York (11-1), Benet coach

Joe Kilbride watched his Redwings (12-0) roll to a convincing 66-49 victory in Elmhurst.

Benet took a 36-24 lead into their halftime locker room.

The Redwing starting five played 10 minutes of the first half and outscored the Dukes 24-21, led by 11 points from Holmes.

The vaunted Redwing second unit, which consists of Lindsey Rogers (nine points, five rebounds), Allison Forney (two points, two steals), Molly Sheehan (three points, two steals, two assists), Lexi Moriarty (two points), and Margaret Snyder were together for six minutes of the first half.

The Redwing "Depth Squad" outscored the Dukes 12-3. For the first five minutes play, the Dukes were shutout. Rogers scored seven of her nine points in the first half.

"Everyday in practice we, the second unit, has to go up against Brooke, Kendall Holmes, Kendall Moriarty, Morgan Demos and Ashley Berry," Rogers said. "After trying to stop them from scoring in practice each day when we play a normal team in a game, that's why we are so good defensively."

In the third quarter, the Dukes pulled to within 38-29 with six minutes remaining in the third quarter. Duke 6-0 junior Megan Juneman (16 points, six rebounds) began to dominate

inside.

A 12-2 Redwing run, sparked by nine points from Schramek, led to a 50-31 Redwing lead midway through the third quarter. Schramek (17 points, six rebounds, four assists, three blocks) scored 12 of her game-high 17 points in the third quarter.

Holmes (17 points, four assists, three steals) assisted on four of Schramek's third quarter buckets and tie for game-scoring honors with her longtime teammate.

"Kendall and I have been playing together since we were in fifth grade," Schramek said. "We know where each other is on the court at all times. It was so much fun for us to be playing so well together."

"Brooke was unstoppable today," Holmes said. "I knew I just had to get her the ball and she would score."

Even though she was under-the weather, junior guard Kendall Moriarty had three steals, three assists and scored three points while playing in-your-face defense.

Backcourt mate Ashley Berry twice picked the pockets of Duke ball-handlers, handed out four assists, grabbed two rebounds and scored four points.

Redwing freshman Lenee Beaumont, leader of Benet Academy's third unit scored five points and had pair of steals for her contribution, to the victory.

"What Brooke (Schramek) and Kendall Holmes did today is what we expect from our two,senior leaders," Kilbride said. "Although under the weather, Kendall Moriarty played outstanding for us. Lindsey (Rogers) came off the bench for us and she really lit it up. Our deep bench really makes it difficult for opposing players to perform well.

"Having the first string playing tough defense and then being replaced by a fresh, very good defensive player, we all wear them out over the course of the game."

On December 26, the Redwings open up with Oak Park (1-9) in their first-round game of the 11th Annual Montini Christmas Classic. With a possible rematch with Fremd (10-2) in the semifinals, on Dec. 28 and a possible championship game match-up with the host Lady Bronco's (16-0).