Wheeling 50, Lake Zurich 32
After going 23 years without a regional crown, Wheeling's girls basketball team now has three in four years.
Junior Ashley Wilson scored a game-high 22 points and senior Lana Rukavina added 10 as the Wildcats broke on top 7-0 and never looked back while recording a 50-32 triumph over Lake Zurich in the Bears' Class 4A regional final Friday night.
Wheeling (27-3) will face Warren (27-2) in the Mundelein sectional semifinal Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
Coach Shelly Wiegel took over the Wheeling post four years ago, the same year Rukavina started as a freshman.
Wilson came aboard as a freshman two years.
"It feels good to get another one (regional title)," said Wilson, who was denied one last year when Lake Zurich upset the Wildcats in the same game on the same floor.
"Because of that (loss last year) you could see we were a little uneasy in the first two minutes," said Wheeling sophomore Bianca Szafarowicz, who collected 6 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals and 2 assists. "But once we got ahead 7-0, we became more comfortable shooting and going in for layups."
Szafarowicz's steal and layup gave the Wildcats a 16-6 lead early in the second quarter.
Peggy Parhas' 3-pointer got the Bears to within 22-16, but a free throw by Szafarowicz and rebound layup by Wilson sent the Mid-Suburban League champs into the locker room leading 25-16.
"You know, with them being state-ranked, and us the underdog, that really gave us motivation," Parhas said. "We worked so hard on defense, I think maybe our offense suffered a little."
Parhas (11 points), Kelsey Karmell and Jessica Cacioppi played their final prep basketball games.
"I'm going to miss every single one of my teammates," Parhas said. "They will all get a piece of my heart. I couldn't be happier about my three years on the varsity here. They were the best experience I've had in basketball."
Parhas' 15-footer from the baseline brought the Bears to within 5 after three quarters at 34-29.
But Wheeling started the final period with Rukavina's driving bank shot and a rebound layup by Wilson. The Wildcats then gradually drew away to the final margin of 18.
"At halftime, we talked about how unforced errors really hurt us," said Bears coach Chris Bennett. "We made a nice run at them in the third quarter. That was a tough situation for them (Wheeling) to be in and they handled it well."
The Bears (22-10) won seven of their last eight games and lost leading scorer Lydia Bauer on Jan. 9 to a shoulder injury.
"I'll remember our three seniors," Bennett said. "I'm kind of glad they got to play their last home game here. They all played since third grade."
Junior guard Olivia Allen also had 11 points for the Bears while teammates Gabby Chapa, Audrey Bauer, Coryn Schmit and Cacioppi all scored.
"Getting through their (Lake Zurich's) screens was tough," Szafarowicz added. "They set solid ones and we had to communicate a lot."