Lyle-Pacelli's Ann Rysavy pulls up for a shot in the lane against the Rochester Home Schoolers in LP's 52-40 win in Lyle Monday. -- Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

LYLE — Once the Lyle-Pacelli girls basketball team shook off any fears of being the smaller squad, they were just fine as they beat the Rochester Home Schoolers 52-40 in Lyle Monday.

Lyle-Pacelli sophomore guard Ann Rysavy led the way with 18 points, five rebounds, and five assists. She said the Athletics (7-3 overall) were a little skeptical early in the game.

“I think were a little intimidated by their height at first and we didn’t know what to expect because we didn’t know much about them,” Rysavy said. “We came out a little flat.”

The Athletics (7-3 overall) led just 29-28 early in the second half, but Madison Truckenmiller drilled a three-pointer that ignited a 15-4 run that saw LP go up 44-30 with 10:21 left in the game.

“They’re big and tall, but we made up for it hustle,” LP head coach Brad Walter said. “In the first half we got caught flat footed a few times, but in the second half they started getting on their toes.”

Once they broke the game open, the Athletics decided to play a little stall ball. The Home Schoolers crept to within 44-38 with 3:51 left, but they scored just two points the rest of the way as LP closed the game at the free throw line.

“We’re young and we score in spurts,” Walter said. “We had a lead and I didn’t want it to run out. You play games to try to win and at that point I thought that gave us the best chance to win.”

LP has now won five games in a row, and Monday’s win was the second closest game during the streak.

“We really do like these tight games. They get us ready for the games to come,” Rysavy said.

LP eighth grader Sarah Holtz had seven points, seven rebounds and three assists and Truckenmiller, a freshman, had six points and five rebounds.

LP 24 28 — 52

RHS 23 17 — 40

LP scoring: Ann Rysavy, 18; Courtney Walter, 14; Sarah Holtz, 7; Madison Truckenmiller, 6; Bethany Strouf, 2; Whitney Hinz, 1; free throws: 67 percent (10-for-15); rebounds: 31 (Holtz, 7); turnovers: 12

RHS scoring: Rachel Hart, 9; Abby Rudlong, 8; Anastasia Bruss, 8; Hannah Theisen, 8; Charity Rudlong, 5; Rebekah Hart, 2; free throws: 50 percent (5-for-10); turnovers: 19