Graham Adds Punch to L-W North Girls Basketball Front Line

Taylor Boardman is tall enough to take over a game by herself.

And she has done just that on a number of occasions this season for the Lincoln-Way North girls basketball team.

More recently, she has teamed with Ellen Graham to give the Phoenix a Twin Towers look under the basket. Graham, a 6-foot-2 sophomore forward, came up big in a 41-27 victory over district rival Lincoln-Way West on Thursday night in Frankfort.

She scored four points—and had at least as many assists. She grabbed five rebounds. And she blocked four shots.

She also took some of the pressure off Boardman, a 6-foot senior forward who has grown accustomed to being double-teamed on the blocks and grown more and more appreciative of Graham’s help down low.

“She’s added a lot,” Boardman said. “She has added a bunch of points, a bunch of rebounds. She had so many blocks tonight. They were even afraid to start coming in because she was down there and she was doing such a good job.”

Graham’s height gives her an advantage passing the ball over opponent defenses in Lincoln-Way North’s high-low offensive set. Her wingspan and shot-blocking abilities are disruptive on the defensive end of the floor.

“It helps because they’re worried about both of us—with our height,” Boardman said. “So, when they sometimes double-team one, it leaves the other open. We try and work high-low and stuff like that.”

Boardman was on the receiving end of a number of Graham’s passes in the Phoenix rout of Lincoln-Way West. The result: Boardman scored a game-high 15 points. She made 5-of-10 shots. She also pulled down seven rebounds.

“Taylor’s been our go-to scorer,” Lincoln-Way North coach Jim Nair said.

He expected that Boardman would carry a big load. He hoped Graham would blossom like she has—she might be ahead of schedule.

“It takes a little pressure off rebounding when Ellen (Graham) is in the game,” Nair said. “She worked very hard over the summer. Her passing has improved as the season has gone on. Her rebounding continues to get better. And she’s finishing shots this year.

"We’re real happy where she’s at and excited where she’s going to end up.”

Graham picks her spots—coming off the bench. She learns from watching Boardman, too.

“Taylor’s a great post,” Graham said. “She’s our leading senior, too. So, we try to get it to her. She’s a consistent player. I flash to the top. She’s great at posting up. She’s wide open all the time. So, I just dish it to her. She almost always makes it.

“If she’s covered, we kick it out to our great guards—Ashley Weringa and Sam Pietruszynski. All of our guards can shoot. We’re a well-rounded team.”

More so now than ever—with Twin Towers teaming up under the basket.