There are two new Sheriffs in town, and senior guard Ava Tisch has been tasked with showing them the ropes for Lincoln-Way West.
Tisch, who has played the point most of her career, is playing that position on a part-time basis this season while teaching freshmen twins Lucy and Kacie Sheriff the finer points of running the show.
“I have to push them to do what I used to do,” Tisch said. “Sometimes, it’s not easy. They are freshmen and they do get frustrated. But they have a lot of talent and it will work out.”
Things are working out pretty well so far for Tisch and the Sheriff twins.
Kacie scored 11 points and Lucy came up with eight steals Thursday night as the Warriors rolled to a 60-32 win over Oak Lawn in the second round of pool play at the inaugural Rich Township Thanksgiving Classic in Richton Park.
Senior guard/forward Molly Finn scored 16 of her 22 points in the first quarter for Lincoln-Way West (2-0). She also passed the 1,000-point mark for her career with her 10th point in the game.
Lincoln-Way West’s Ava Tisch (5) dishes the ball against Oak Lawn during the Rich Township Thanksgiving Classic in Richton Park on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
“I feel very accomplished and proud of my hard work,” said Finn, a Valparaiso softball recruit. “I put in extra work in basketball. I work on shooting, so, yeah, I’m proud of myself.
“It’s a big accomplishment.”
Sara Abdelrahman led Oak Lawn (0-2) with 12 points. She made four 3-pointers.
The 5-foot-5 Tisch, meanwhile, added eight points to go with six rebounds for the Warriors. Her role change, however, is not just an opportunity to mentor of pair of freshmen. It’s also a necessity.
Lincoln-Way West’s Ava Tisch (5) grabs a rebound against Oak Lawn during the Rich Township Thanksgiving Classic in Richton Park on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
Caroline Smith, the 2024-25 Daily Southtown Girls Basketball Player of the Year, graduated, while Reagan McCracken, a 5-8 junior guard/forward, is injured. The Warriors have only eight healthy players and four are 5-5 or shorter.
“With us not having Caroline and with Regan being hurt, I’m now playing the role of a bigger guard even though I’m not that tall,” Tisch said. “It’s more of a challenge because I have to work my butt off to get the rebounds. That’s my position now.”
It’s a challenge she has accepted, and she’s starting to get a handle on the job. A three-year varsity regular, she’s also being counted on for leadership.
“She brings experience,” Lincoln-Way West coach Ryan White said of Tisch. “She’s someone who can drop 20 points and get us through a game. As a senior, she’s doing more of the little things that experience brings.
Lincoln-Way West’s Molly Finn (10) brings the ball up the court against Oak Lawn during the Rich Township Thanksgiving Classic in Richton Park on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
“She’s guiding the young ones a little bit. She’s vocal, and when you are a point guard, you have to be a leader.”
This also is Tisch’s final season of competitive basketball. She decided to concentrate on academics in college. Although she hasn’t picked a college, she’s looking to major in architecture.
For now, she hopes the Warriors can build on early success and have a big season.
Even with a short roster.
Lincoln-Way West’s Ava Tisch (5) puts up a shot over Oak Lawn’s Clark Zylius (12) during the Rich Township Thanksgiving Classic in Richton Park on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
“Definitely our pace will help us,” she said. “I feel like we’re really a fast team and we’re all well-conditioned, so pushing the ball and playing well on defense will help us win games.”
Tisch started playing basketball in third grade on a boys team with her brother, Jack. He eventually gave up the sport, but Ava continued and has enjoyed her career on the court.
“I love the pace of basketball,” she said. “You are always going and never stopping. And of course, I love the girls on the team. We have so much chemistry. A lot of us play travel, too.
“I feel like we’re together all the time and I just love all of them.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
