Dixon’s shots take down Eagles

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ALGONQUIN – Melissa Dixon’s three-pointer early in the second quarter against Jacobs on Tuesday gave Johnsburg a 23-15 lead and put her over 100 points for the season after only six games.

Dixon, a junior guard, leads the Skyhawks at 18.5 points a game. On Tuesday she had 23 to lead Johnsburg to a 51-46 win against the Golden Eagles in a Fox Valley Conference crossover matchup.

“My shot has been really on in the beginning of the season,” Dixon said, “I have had a lot of open looks, and my teammates have done a good job getting me the ball.”

The Skyhawks built a 10-point lead on the Eagles (5-1) halfway through the second quarter, 26-16. However, Jacobs cut the deficit to one point by halftime, 27-26, as senior Maria Tamburrino hit a three-pointer for the Golden Eagles as time expired.

“We knew we were in for a good game,” Johnsburg coach Mike Toussaint said.

The second half followed the same pattern as the first, as Johnsburg built a solid lead and Jacobs made a run to catch up.

With three minutes left in the game, two three-pointers by Eagles forward Hailey Cnota cut the Skyhawks’ lead to 49-46.

However, the Eagles weren’t able to score in the final three minutes, and the Skyhawks held on to hand Jacobs its first loss of the season.

“[The Golden Eagles] are one of the best teams in the conference,” Johnsburg senior Danielle Slivka said. “We have a goal to go undefeated in conference, and this win is something to build on towards that.”

Cnota led the Eagles with 19 points and fellow senior Maria Tamburrino added 13 points.

“Johnsburg is by far the best team we have faced so far,” Jacobs coach Ed Haugens said, “and we had trouble locating their best players Dixon and Slivka.”