CHICAGO HEIGHTS | Teniya Page doesn't say much on the basketball court.
Instead, she lets her work do all the talking.
The catch is, quiet is what Marian Catholic coach Annie Byrne said is the one thing she wished her freshman point guard wasn't.
"Teniya needs to talk more on the court," Byrne said. "She is a freshman, so she is a little quiet, but we need her to talk more and shout out what is going on."
Page is the first freshman point guard to start for the Spartans since two-time Times Player of the Year Kaila Turner did so in the 2005-06 season. Turner, now at Notre Dame, was also shy, but helped lead the Spartans to a trip to the Class AA Elite Eight in the then-two class system. Page said she is learning to be more vocal.
"I know I need to talk more and I am," Page said. "I am learning the game at the high school level and I just didn't want to come in as a freshman and talk a lot. I realize you have to communicate if you are to be a point guard."
The Spartans face Marist at 7:30 p.m. today in one semifinal of the Class 4A Sandburg Sectional. Marist beat the Spartans 47-43 in December.
What Page said she had to really get used was the difference in play at the high school level. She got a taste of it when the Spartans opened against power Lincoln-Way East.
"Man, this was going real fast," Page said. "I had a shot blocked and everything moved so fast, but I am used to the pace now."
Page is averaging 6.3 points, 2.9 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.
Byrne said it was an adjustment, but Page is learning the game.
"She was used to practicing once or twice a week in grammar school and she played with us in the summer in AAU, but that is totally different," Byrne said. "She knows now how to step up her game and she is doing a great job of running things."
Page is also learning about the past great guards she is following, including Turner, Patrice King, Keisha Collins, Skye Johnson, Missy Mitidiero and Mary Basic to name a few. All have or are playing Division I college basketball.
"That is a great honor to play in this program with all its success and history," Page said. "There have been some great guards here, great players all around."
There may be another name to add to the list after four years.
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