Carpentersville, IL — Link to original article: https://bit.ly/47pWVQf When she was a younger player on the varsity, South Elgin’s Lexi Lopez left the leadership and assertiveness to her older teammates. But now this season, she’s a senior. She knows it’s time for her to step up. “As a point guard on a varsity team, with the fast speed, I try to usually involve my teammates a lot,” Lopez said. “I’m not a player that takes the ball all the way in or shoots. “But that’s what I have to be doing this year to help my teammates out.” Lopez took control Wednesday night against the host Chargers, scoring a team-high 19 points to lead the Storm to a 50-44 win in the Dundee-Crown Thanksgiving Tournament. Along with six rebounds, two assists, a steal and a blocked shot, Lopez shot 7 of 12 from the floor for South Elgin (1-1). Molly Stahl added nine points and Madison Hunt had eight. After the Chargers forced a 40-40 tie with 2:45 left in the fourth quarter, Stahl hit a jumper from the wing and Lopez followed with a driving layup after streaking down court with a rebound. The Storm never trailed again. Menu Icon Chicago Tribune ADVERTISEMENT SPORTS As point guard and co-captain, South Elgin’s Lexi Lopez looks at leadership as ‘a great opportunity.’ And it shows. By Paul Johnson Aurora Beacon-News • Published: Nov 16, 2023 at 12:54 am Expand South Elgin's Lexi Lopez (11) moves around Dundee-Crown's Charlotte Stewart (12) during a game in the Dundee-Crown Thanksgiving Tournament in Carpentersville on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. South Elgin's Lexi Lopez (11) moves around Dundee-Crown's Charlotte Stewart (12) during a game in the Dundee-Crown Thanksgiving Tournament in Carpentersville on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. (H. Rick Bamman/The Beacon-News) When she was a younger player on the varsity, South Elgin’s Lexi Lopez left the leadership and assertiveness to her older teammates. But now this season, she’s a senior. She knows it’s time for her to step up. “As a point guard on a varsity team, with the fast speed, I try to usually involve my teammates a lot,” Lopez said. “I’m not a player that takes the ball all the way in or shoots. “But that’s what I have to be doing this year to help my teammates out.” Lopez took control Wednesday night against the host Chargers, scoring a team-high 19 points to lead the Storm to a 50-44 win in the Dundee-Crown Thanksgiving Tournament. Along with six rebounds, two assists, a steal and a blocked shot, Lopez shot 7 of 12 from the floor for South Elgin (1-1). Molly Stahl added nine points and Madison Hunt had eight. Monica Sierzputowski led all scorers with 23 points for Dundee-Crown (0-1). She also grabbed eight rebounds. After the Chargers forced a 40-40 tie with 2:45 left in the fourth quarter, Stahl hit a jumper from the wing and Lopez followed with a driving layup after streaking down court with a rebound. The Storm never trailed again. “We had just talked to her about pushing the ball because that’s what she brings to us, speed,” South Elgin coach Emily Driessen said. “She brings a little bit more of our leadership. She’s a captain for our team. “Giving her those roles in those situations are key for us and our success. It is so important. That’s the kind of player she is. She’ll grind and she wants it. She wants that pressure.” Performances like this are what Lopez is hoping to see with her increased role this season. “On varsity in past years, I wasn’t really a captain,” Lopez said. “Stepping up as a captain this year is a great opportunity, and it’s fun.”