Daily Herald players of the week
Northwest suburbs
Ariana Zades, Conant
Zades' 2 free throws in a bonus situation with 55.5 seconds gave Conant a 39-37 lead and put the Cougars ahead to stay in a 41-39 triumph over Hoffman Estates in the championship game of the Conant regional. Zades, a senior guard who finished with a team-high 10 points, also hit a free throw with two seconds left which made the final 41-39.
Brandon Bolger, Schaumburg
Bolger heated up just in time for Schaumburg. After scoring 11 points in a 59-49 win over Mid-Suburban League champion Conant, the senior finished the regular season with the two best games of his career. Bolger had 28 points and six 3-pointers in a 62-46 win over Lake Park and 30 points and four 3s in a 63-42 win over Hersey.
Fox Valley
Jill Cole, Cary-Grove
Cary-Grove's 5-foot-10 senior led the Trojans to a Class 4A regional championship by scoring 29 points in the two postseason wins. She also had 10 rebounds, 5 steals and shot 60 percent from the floor in Helping C-G win its 25th and 26th games of the season.
Armani Williams, Elgin
Elgin's senior shooting guard put on one of the best performances of his four-year varsity career in a 73-58 upset of previously unbeaten Upstate Eight Conference leader, Waubonsie Valley. Williams, who sank six 3-pointers to extend his school record, scored 15 of his 30 points in the third quarter to lead Elgin to its 9th victory in 11 games.
Lake Co.
Samantha Panitch, Mundelein
Panitch satisfied the itch. The senior point guard's team-high 18 points helped the Mustangs win their first regional championship in three years, 63-52 over Grant at Stevenson. Her night included three 3-pointers.
Kenny Rideout, Vernon Hills
The Cougars rode out of town victorious thanks to Rideout. The senior center scored the winning basket with 10 seconds left, lifting visiting Vernon Hills to a 56-51 win over Round Lake. He finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds.
DuPage Co.
Samantha Rubright, Fenton
The 5-foot-10 junior forward powered the Bison to their first regional championship since 1987. In the Class 3A Fenton regional Rubright posted 19 points, 11 rebounds, 4 steals and a block in a 47-32 semifinal triumph over Jones, then totaled 17 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal in a 53-45 title victory versus Elmwood Park.
Dave Pilalis, Wheaton North
In an epic DuPage Valley Conference showdown, the Falcons' senior guard knocked down eight 3-pointers and scored 30 points in a 75-74 triple-overtime win at West Aurora. Pilalis nailed the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer in the third overtime to seal the Falcons' first DVC title since 1986.
Tri-Cities/p>
Faith Jones, Rosary
The senior guard posted solid back-to-back games in the Class 3A Yorkville regional. In the win against Yorkville, she scored 14 points. In the regional title victory over Oswego, she tallied 15 points.
Phil Albrecht, Batavia
The Bulldogs clinched a share of the Western Sun Conference title Friday by beating Sycamore, and this senior guard tied for scoring honors with 19 points including three 3-pointers. Albrecht added 10 points in a win over St. Charles East Saturday.