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.”

Sierzputowski, however, scored 14 straight points to help the Chargers take a 28-26 lead early in the third quarter. She only scored four more points the rest of the way, though.

“We kind of went away from her a little bit,” Dundee-Crown coach John Gonnella said. “When she was working, we should have gotten her the ball a little bit more.”

Gonnella feels Sierzputowski’s performance is something he and the Chargers will see more of this winter.

“We just want her to have more games like that,” Gonnella said. “She’s certainly capable of it. I think the way the conference is stacked up now, she’s going to have a lot more of these games. She’s focused on that.”

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Hunt and Lopez, meanwhile, are senior leaders for an otherwise young team for South Elgin. Driessen has moved up from JV to varsity, taking over from longtime coach Dan Mandernack.

Driessen credited Hunt and Lopez for helping ease the transition. Wednesday marked her first varsity win.

“It’s been nice, and I think it’s because I have really good leadership,” she said. “They’ve bought into who I am and what I bring. I think that’s carried on to our younger kids in the program, so they’re buying in as well.”

Lopez said Driessen’s style helps bring out the best in her play, too.

“She’s a great coach,” Lopez said. “I love the way she coaches. I love how she’s passionate about the game. Having me and Madison as captains allows her to feel more comfortable with the team.

“We all just play together and we stick together.”

Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.