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The Trinity girls basketball team has been without leading scorer Mikayla Leyden who is out with a twitched knee. But that hasn’t been a problem lately.

The Blazers saw two of its returning starters – Taylor Nazon and Lauren Prochaska – score in double-digits on Tuesday night’s 56-40 win over the visiting Proviso West.

“We knew Proviso West was lightening quick, but we knew that our defense would be there, and we have just tremendous guard play,” Trinity coach Ed Stritzel said. “Lauren and Taylor, I think those two combined, are tremendous guard players.”

Senior Nazon scored 19, junior Prochaska had 15 points, and senior Shannon McGinnis added eight. With the win, the Blazers improve to 2-0.

Tuesday’s game was the Panther’s season opener, and girls coach Kellee Roberston said the loss doesn’t worry her.

“We still need to play more games like this to be strong,” said Robertson, who is entering her fifth season as the Panther’s coach. “At the end of the game, we came back and played like how we normally play, but it was a little too late. I think the nerves and stuff in the first half really messed them up and got us so far behind that it’s really difficult to catch up.”

The Blazers were up 13-7 after the first quarter and held the Panthers to only three points by the end of the half, leading 24-10.

The Panthers – who tied for first in the West Suburban Silver last season – missed 10 free throws in the first half alone.

Point guard Mikaela Boyd is returning from a dislocated shoulder injury she suffered last season and led the Panthers with 20 points. Freshman Panther Cinia McCray added 10.

“They’re physical, they’re fast, they’re aggressive, but we knew that we had to come out, be confident, know that we had a good game plan,” Prochaska said. “We knew that pushing the ball, fronting the post, stopping penetration was going to be a big thing. We followed our assignments really well.”

Trinity lost to Whitney Young in the Lyons Sectional Final last season. This year, a state title is in its sight.

“State is our goal,” Prochaska said. “People always think Trinity is going to fall when a star player like (former Blazer, now DePaul) Megan (Podkowa) leaves, but the seniors have taken such a great role when leading the team.”