Tournament time promises excitement for Tri-Cities teams

Since it is not quite March yet, I guess February Frenzy will suffice.

Next week, our local girls basketball teams will begin postseason play at various Class 4A regional sites throughout the western suburbs.

It's that time of year again - win or go home.

There are teams that have made winning a regional title seem like it is an annual event.

Geneva, which placed fourth in the state a year ago, has captured 6 consecutive regional championships - 3 since Sarah Meadows took over as head coach in 2011-12.

What does it take to win a regional or sectional?

"A lot of it depends on the atmosphere and team chemistry," said Meadows, whose team compiled a 14-game winning streak that encompassed regional, sectional and supersectional titles last season. "Our kids liked each other.

"I think chemistry is a huge factor in the postseason."

Meadows also is a firm believer in senior leadership.

"Our older kids have to step up," said Meadows. "For players like Janie (McCloughan) and Abby (Novak), it's their time to shine. It's their senior year."

Meanwhile, it has been more than 5 years since St. Charles East or St. Charles North has captured a regional title.

"It's a very big deal," Saints coach Lori Drumtra said of winning a regional. "It has been a while. I think 2009 was the last time we did it so we're due."

St. Charles North will serve as 1 of the 4 regional sites (along with Addison Trail, Lake Park and Wheaton North) - something that could come in handy for the North Stars next week.

"We wanted to be able to host it and play for a regional title," said North Stars coach Sean Masoncup. "First, we have to play either Glenbard East or Glenbard West. Once you get to the state tournament, it's one game at a time."

Conant (20-5), Geneva (18-6), York (19-7) and St. Charles East (18-7) earned the top 4 sectional seeds and sent to separate regional sites by the Illinois High School Association.

On paper, the 21-team Geneva sectional field appears strong.

Along with St. Charles North (17-8) and Bartlett (18-8), the top 6 seeds own a combined record of 110-41 (. 728 winning percentage).

Since January 1, the 6 teams are 52-15 (. 776).

Seeded 12th, Glenbard East carried a 15-13 mark into tonight's clash with Metea Valley.

"I think anybody can beat anybody," said Meadows, whose team will face either Lake Park or West Chicago Tuesday at Lake Park. "I think the regionals are going to be tough. It wouldn't surprise me to see some upsets."

"It's wide-open," said Drumtra, whose team will face Glenbard North or Fenton Wednesday at St. Charles North. "I think it's going to be anybody's sectional. For us, we've got to focus on the regional."

"The top 7, top 8 teams - anybody can win it," said Masoncup, whose North Stars open regional play Wednesday. "Conant, Geneva, York, (St. Charles) East, Schaumburg, Bartlett, Batavia - all of them are very good programs. We just hope that we're in the mix when it comes down to it."

Led by Division I recruit Hannah Frazier, eighth-seeded Batavia (15-13) awaits a first-round clash with No. 9 South Elgin Tuesday at Addison Trail.

"I can't imagine that anybody is going to be too pumped to get us in a regional as far as I'm concerned," said Bulldogs coach Kevin Jensen.

A year ago, Batavia captured its first regional title since 1990 and advanced to the sectional championship game before a 48-24 loss to Geneva.

At St. Charles North, the regional championship could feature a third meeting between the St. Charles schools - East took the first game (56-52) in early December while North won the January matchup (61-43).

"I kind of figured that," Drumtra said of the regional pairings. "They (IHSA) like to put East and North together. It seems like we're always in the same regional with a (Upstate Eight) River Division opponent. Last year, it was Batavia. The year before that, it was Geneva."

The teams possess plenty of talent, including St. Charles East seniors Katie Claussner, Kyra Washington and freshman Sara Rosenfeldt, and St. Charles North senior Nichole Davidson and juniors Claire Jakaitis and Morgan Rosencrants.

"If we play North at North, that certainly isn't ideal but I don't think it's ideal for them either," said Drumtra. "Both teams know each other so well - there's not a whole lot you can surprise anybody with. Whoever wins is going to earn it."

There is more to tournament time than just rolling out the basketball to midcourt and the X's and O's of play calling.

"We've been focusing on the psychological aspect of it more than anything else," said Drumtra. "One of my assistants, Sarah Seward, played at Naperville Central with a team that won 2 state championships in a row (2003 and 2004). She has talked to the kids about the mental aspect.

"It's time to turn it up a notch - that's what championship teams do. Doing what you're doing right now probably isn't going to get you where you want to go."

After somewhat of a slow start, St. Charles North has played well of late. Despite having their 7-game winning streak snapped by Glenbard South (55-52) Tuesday night, the North Stars own a 10-2 mark since Jan. 1.

"We had to learn how to play with a different player," Masoncup said of the 6-2 Jakaitis, who transferred from Montini. "She had to learn differently, too, because all she was used to was playing zone (defense). She has come a long way."

While the North Stars have offensive weapons in Davidson and Jakaitis, they favor more of a defensive approach.

"Our practices are revolved around that," said Masoncup. "Defense always wins championships."

At Geneva, Meadows also realizes the significance that defense plays.

"We're focusing on the defensive side of the floor," said Meadows. "At some point, somebody will score for us. We have to get steals and stops. We want to make a team do things they're uncomfortable doing."

The Vikings feature a formidable front line of 6-2 sophomore Grace Loberg, 6-foot Novak and 5-10 McCloughan.

"Rebounding is one of our strengths with the height and experience we have," said Meadows.

Geneva's all-freshman backcourt features Stephanie Hart and Margaret Whitley.

"I think they'll get up for it," said Meadows. "They're going to make mistakes but they have to shake them off and play through it. You think you're ready for varsity basketball but it's hard. It's hard for juniors to adjust to varsity play, yet alone 14-year-old freshmen.

"They're starting varsity players here for a reason. I'm going to tell them to trust your skills and stay mentally strong."

While the tournament has a February starting date, the ultimate goal is a trip to Redbird Arena in Normal on March 6.

You can reach Craig Brueske at csb4k@hotmail.com