GIRLS BASKETBALL: Strong second half lifts Sparta over Elverado

Elverado had a strong first half, but couldn't sustain that effort after the break as Sparta pulled away for a 53-28 win over the Lady Falcons at the 10th annual Chester Lady Jacket MId-Winter Classic on Monday night.

Allie Whittington had 11 points in the first half to help keep EHS in the game, as Sparta led just 22-20 after two periods. But Whittington went scoreless in the second half, and the Lady Falcons managed just eight points as a team following halftime.

Tori Ehlers added 4 points for Elverado, Emma Bigham and Brooke Whittington each had 3, Kadie Dunmyer, Hannah Alstat and Brianna Tuthill had 2 apiece, and Cheradon Lively scored 1 point.

Sparta's Kira Kiner led all scorers with 26 points.

The Lady Falcons (4-11) fall into the loser's side of the bracket where they will take on Trico at 6 p.m. on Wednesday night in Chester. Sparta advances on the winner's side to meet top-seeded New Athens at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.